It was widely expected to be van Buyten’s final game in City colours as his loan spell with Marseille ends when the current campaign comes to a close in May.

Blues boss Kevin Keegan, still absent from his club’s Carrington training ground as he recovers from an injection into his back, has already highlighted the problems cash-strapped City may have in securing van Buyten on a permanent deal.

The 26-year-old though has enjoyed his stint in the Premiership and is keen to stay with City providing the right deal can be agreed.

“When Manchester City first approached Daniel he didn’t know too much about them so he wouldn’t have signed a contract for any longer than the end of the season,” van Buyten’s agent Christophe Henrotay told BBC GMR.

“But he has really enjoyed his time there and is sad that his season has ended through injury.

“It’s fair to say he has changed his mind a little bit and if Manchester City were able to make an offer to Marseille for him he would look at it favourably.”

City’s ability to raise the kind of cash required to secure van Buyten on a permanent basis will almost certainly depend on a summer departure of £13m (€19.5m) record-signing Nicolas Anelka, a move Keegan would be loathe to sanction.

However, the former England coach may have to be prepared to let Anelka leave if he is to have the chance of rebuilding a squad which has performed well below expectations this season.

Much of the blame for City’s lack of success has been laid at Keegan’s door and there has been talk that given his current health problem, he may decide to take a dignified exit during the summer even though he would still have two years of his original five-year contract still to run.

Van Buyten though is a huge fan and claimed it was only Keegan’s presence and persistence which saw him join City in the first place.

“Daniel came to Manchester City because of Kevin Keegan,” said Henrotay.

“He got a great feeling about the club purely by talking to the manager and was happy to join as long as he knew Kevin wouldn’t be leaving.

“For his part Kevin has asked to be kept in touch with Daniel’s situation and I will call him back in a month’s time.”

Henrotay confirmed that if City were unable to do a deal with Marseille, van Buyten, once a target of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, would look at offers from other Premiership clubs and believes Marseille would be willing to sell.

“Manchester City have an option to buy but we are talking quite a lot of money, although I am sure if they want Daniel they could probably reach an agreement,” he said.

“Marseille are ready to talk with them – or any other club who are interested in Daniel.

“Naturally, they want to sell at the highest price possible.”