Town and Stoke City have been keeping a close eye on Manchester City striker Emile Mpenza, according to reports in Belgium. Mpenza joined City in February of last year after a trial, but since then has made only 19 starts and 10 sub appearances, scoring six goals.

The DR Congo-born player has been capped by Belgium 54 times, scoring 17 goals and played at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He missed the World Cup in 2002 due to injury.

The 29-year-old started his career with youth side Léopold Club Mesvinois in his adopted country, playing his first senior football with KV Kortrijk in 1995/96 before moving to RE Mouscron for a season.

Two years with Standard Liège saw the 5ft 9in tall striker impress and win himself a move to German side Schalke 04 in 2000, but after three years he was back with Standard.

In 2004 Mpenza returned to Germany with Hamburg SV before a surprise switch to Qatari side Al Rayyan in the summer of 2006, which was widely criticised in Belgium, prior to his move into English football.

Mpenza's City contract is up in the summer, although the Premier League side have the option to sign him for two further seasons, something they seem unlikely to take up given his lack of games.

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