Friedel bound for Manchester City?

Brad Friedel, who has been with Blackburn since 2000, signed an extension that would keep him with the Rovers through 2010. AP More from Goal.com More English PL coverage from Goal.com More Italian Serie A coverage from Goal.com More Spanish La Liga coverage from Goal.com More U.S., MLS soccer coverage from Goal.com More Mexican soccer coverage from Goal.com

By Gill Clark, Special to SI.com, Goal.com

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes has been linked with another Blackburn Rovers player, and this time it's former U.S. national team goalkeeper Brad Friedel who is reportedly interesting his former boss.

Since swapping Rovers for City back in June, Hughes has been linked with a number of his former players, including David Bentley and striker Roque Santa Cruz. Now reports in the press suggest that Hughes is also interested in enticing Friedel to Eastlands.

Friedel signed for Blackburn from Liverpool in 2000 and has gone on to become one of Rovers' key players. He is the longest-serving player at Ewood Park and recently signed a contract extension that could keep him in Lancashire until 2010.

However, a report in the Manchester Evening News suggests that Hughes is willing to offer his former club $3 million to secure the services of the American goalkeeper.

The news will surely come as a blow to Joe Hart, the current goalkeeper at City. Having established himself in the first team last season, he also managed to win his first cap for England and is competing with David James for the goalkeeper's jersey under Fabio Capello.

While the paper reports that Hughes sees Friedel as an excellent mentor for Hart, it could also increase speculation that the young keeper will head away from City, with Spurs one possible destination.

Should Friedel follow Hughes to Manchester, it could open the door for Rovers' Welsh reserve keeper, Jason Brown, to establish himself in the first team.

Brown's only appearances in the first team to date came against Wigan Athletic in 2006 when he replaced an injured Friedel and saved a penalty. Blackburn went on to win the game 2-1.

Friedel was the starting U.S. keeper at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He retired from international play in '05 with 82 caps to his name.