Manchester City are rumoured to have agreed to smash the British transfer record with a £40 million bid for Benfica winger Angel Di Maria.
And City are also happy to top up their vast outlay to Benfica by a further £35 million for highly-rated centre half David Luiz. Well-placed insiders have told ESPN soccernet that they believe a £75 million bid for the Benfica pair will be successful, as it tops all previous offers from rival suitors.
Such spending further increases the suspicion that City have a transfer budget that could even blow Roman Abramovich out of the water. City are being consistently linked with moves for Liverpool pair Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard.
A summer outlay that could come close, or even surpass £200 million is not out of the question, particularly if they can beat Spurs on Wednesday to reach the Champions League and thus be more attractive to the pick of the world's best.
A Premier League transfer specialist told Soccernet on Monday evening: "The word is that Manchester City have already agreed £40m for the Argentine winger and £35m for the centre-half both from Benfica. Di Maria played well against Everton and also Liverpool, and while plenty of the biggest clubs want him, you will find City are willing to pay just that little bit more to get the players they want.
"They've got the money, and they are spending it, and of course you wouldn't be surprised if they went for Torres and Gerrard, but a lot will depend if they can reach the Champions League and we shall all know a lot more by the time they play Spurs on Wednesday at Eastlands."
The 22-year-old Argentina international winger put Everton to the sword in the Portuguese giants' 5-0 and 2-0 wins over the Toffees earlier this season. As a result he became one of Europe's hottest properties, wanted by Premier League giants Manchester United and Chelsea without Manchester City.
Luiz's impressive defensive displays have placed him on the summer shopping lists of Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona so City have moved quickly to get in first, with a bid that none of the other clubs would be prepared to match for the 23 year-old. Luiz, who joined Benfica from Brazilian club Vitoria three years ago, has formed a strong pairing with compatriot Luisao at the heart of the defence though his considerable pace allows him to be equally comfortable at left back.
Barcelona and Man City on alert as Torres considers his future
Liverpool are preparing for a fight to keep star striker Fernando Torres as he considers his Anfield future.
The Spanish international has been unhappy for some time with what he sees as a lack of investment in the team, and he wants to know that the proposed takeover will happen soon, and bring in the necessary funds for rebuilding.
La Liga giants Barcelona have been monitoring his situation, and would be prepared to offer huge sums for his services, as they look to make a splash under a new president to be appointed this summer.
Manchester City and Chelsea have also made discreet enquiries that have not yet been rebuffed by the player's advisors as he waits for reassurance from the Anfield board.
Sources close to Torres suggest that he is no longer an admirer of Rafa Benitez, and would be more likely to give Liverpool another 12 months should the manager leave, to give them time to get new owners and new investment in place. The same applies to Steven Gerrard, who would be more likely to commit if there is a change of management.
Torres has warned the club that he wants to see real signs of progress if he is to commit his long-term future to Anfield.
But it is not a given and the Anfield board will have to demonstrate to their striker that the takeover is getting closer.
Manchester City fat cat players will net £70k bonus EACH if they qualify for Champions League
Manchester City stars will earn bonuses of around £70,000-a-man if they win their two remaining Barclays Premier League matches and earn a place in next season’s Champions League.
The club’s bonus scheme entitles each player featuring in a game to a payment of between £1,600 and £2,000-per-point, depending on where City are in the table at the time of the match.
In addition, £1.1m will be shared among the squad if City finish in fourth place. This will be put in a pool and allocated at the players’ discretion.
In all likelihood, it will be divided depending on how many games players have played.
This means the club’s big-name regulars such as Carlos Tevez, Shay Given and Craig Bellamy can expect to pick up about £60,000-a-man from that lump sum, cash that will be added to win and appearance bonuses they will already have earned through the season.
Given, for example, earned in the region of £100,000 for helping City win 63 points in the league games he played in before injuring his shoulder at Arsenal 10 days ago. This is on top of the goalkeeper’s basic wages.
Some of City’s players are known to put their win bonuses straight in to the bank accounts of chosen charities.
One source close to the City squad said: ‘If you asked the players what their win bonuses are then they wouldn’t know.
'It’s not in their minds and certainly it doesn’t motivate them. They just want to get into the Champions League.’
Mancini also has a sizeable bonus written into his contract
Robinho: Let me quit City
Brazilian superstar Robinho is desperate for Manchester City to let him quit England for good after revealing Roberto Mancini has not spoken to him for months.
The World Cup star Robinho, who has helped Santos win the Brazilian title after joining them on loan in January, wants his City future resolved after his £32.5million move to Eastlands turned sour.
Robinho said: "I have rediscovered my enjoyment of football with Santos and I am totally satisfied here. It's been a wonderful experience in the last few months.
"My loan finishes on August 4 but I want to stay with Santos. I wasn't happy at Manchester City and I would like a solution for myself.
"I want to play, not be on the bench. I have not spoken to Mancini for the past few months and I don't think he has me in his plans.
"I was bored with my personal situation in England. But now I am excited again and my success with Santos is something on a long list of targets which is followed by the World Cup with Brazil this summer."
TRANSFER BOLLOX
Liverpool are lining up a move for Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, who is a free agent at the end of the season. Daily Mail
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been assured by chief executive David Gill that he will have money to spend in the summer, despite the club's huge debts. Daily Mail
Tottenham are preparing a £6m bid for Ipswich's 17-year-old striker Connor Wickham. Daily Mirror
Birmingham are to attempt to try to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster on a permanent deal having resigned themselves to losing on-loan keeper Joe Hart back to Manchester City. Daily Mirror
Bolton will ask Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to allow young midfielder Jack Wilshere to remain at the club on loan for the first half of next season. Guardian
Meanwhile, Bolton defender Gary Cahill has admitted that he would find it difficult to turn down an offer from a big club. Arsenal and Manchester United are rumoured to be interested in the centre-half. Daily Mail
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is tracking Sporting Gijon defender Roberto Canella. Daily Mirror
Former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry looks certain to leave Barcelona with the United States his likely destination. Daily Mirror
OTHER BOLLOX
Liverpool are bracing themselves for Rafa Benitez's departure with rumours of his exit from Anfield to Juventus gathering momentum. Daily Mirror
Benitez will seek assurances over available transfer funds this summer before deciding whether to stay at Liverpool. the Times
Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer fears the club's success this season could see manager Roy Hodgson leave Craven Cottage for "a bigger club". Guardian
But Hodgson will shun a move to Liverpool saying he is instead "happy" to stay at Fulham. the Sun
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