China could consider IMF's sale of 403 tonnes of gold

* China looking to diversify, has 1,054 tonnes already

Market value of IMF sale around $13 billion (Adds comments of central bank officials, paragraphs 7- 15)

BEIJING, Sept 21 (Reuters) - China is considering buying gold being offered for sale by the International Monetary Fund, Market News International said on Monday, citing two unnamed government sources, but the report could not immediately be confirmed.

"China will consider buying if the price is right and the return is relatively high," MNI quoted one of the government sources as saying.

Gold, which had dipped just below $1,000 an ounce, rebounded to $1,003.45 after the report. That would put the market value of the 403.3 tonnes on offer from the IMF at close to $13 billion.