Manchester City will make a second bid of £38million for Chile superstar Alexis Sanchez - sending a message to Roman Abramovich they remain the biggest spending power in the Barclays Premier League.
As Chelsea start a new era at Stamford Bridge under 33-year-old manager Andre Villas-Boas, City hope to beat Barcelona to the signing of Udinese’s Sanchez.
Top target: Alexis Sanchez joined Udinese from Chilean outfit Cobreloa for £2million in 2006
City have spent more money than any other club in five of the last six transfer windows but were usurped in January by Chelsea, who splashed out £75m on Fernando Torres and David Luiz.
Now, despite having eight unwanted players on the wage bill, City owner Sheik Mansour has sanctioned a second bid for Sanchez, 22, having had a £32m offer turned down.
The midfielder wants to join Barcelona but they cannot match City’s offer and have prioritised Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas and ex-Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi.
Although Udinese are holding out for £45m, they risk losing Sanchez to another club for less.
City have had a quiet summer in the transfer market as they try to trim their squad.
But with nobody willing to pay top fees and wages, City will bring in their top target before selling.
meanwhile Chelsea are apparently entering the race ...
Chelsea have entered the race to sign Alexis Sanchez, according to The Metro. The Blues will seek to capture the Udinese forward right from under the noses of Barcelona and Manchester City.
Sanchez had been heavily linked with European champions Barcelona over the past month, with a deal even believed to be complete. That was until Manchester City offered a much bigger bid that apparently got the attention of Udinese president Giampaolo Pozzo. Since then the club have delayed their decision to sell Sanchez. And now it seems that Chelsea will look to try their hand at luring the 22-year-old to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have been following Sanchez since January and had even made an enquiry about the talented player back then. But the club will now have to shell out a hefty sum as Manchester City’s bid has led the Udinese club president to raise Sanchez’s valuation to £45m.
Emmanuel Adebayor's wages 'put Marseille off' Man City striker
Emmanuel Adebayor's hopes of securing a summer transfer to Marseille have been derailed by the Manchester City striker's wage demands, according to a report.
Emmanuel Adebayor has no future at Man City
Adebayor has made it clear he has no intention of moving to Zenit St Petersburg, leaving Marseille as the only club still in the running to sign him.
However, the French side were stunned to discover what the 27-year-old's wage demands were, reports La Provence.
The Stade Velodrome board are said to have baulked at the figure of €600,000 (£535,000) a month and are now looking at other options. Adebayor has already missed out on a permanent move to Real Madrid, after City rejected a £5 million bid.
The Eastlands club paid Arsenal £25 million for the forward in 2009 and want to recoup at least half of the money when they offload him.
NIGEL DE JONG TELLS PAL WESLEY SNEIJDER TO MOVE
NIGEL DE JONG is hoping to talk close friend Wesley Sneijder into joining him at Manchester City.
Nigel De Jong and Wesley Sneijder came through the Ajax academy system together and have remained good pals.
De Jong bigged-up life at Eastlands to Sneijder during last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
And the City star has even been phoning Sneijder while he has been on holiday to tell him all about life in Manchester.
Man United are currently the favourites to capture Sneijder, even though FA Cup holders City can now offer Champions League football.
But United have spent big in the transfer window so far and last week finalised a £16.5million deal for Ashley Young, 25, from Aston Villa.
That move came hot on the heels of the £16m signing of Blackburn centre-back Phil Jones, 19.
Sir Alex Ferguson had already reached an agreement to sign Atletico Madrid’s Spanish Under-21s keeper David de Gea, 20, for £18m.
But the stumbling block in any move for Sneijder is not Inter Milan’s £35m valuation – it’s the Dutchman’s wage demands.
He is understood to have told both City and United that he wants £200,000 a week – £30,000 more than he currently earns in Italy.
That probably wouldn’t sit comfortably with United’s pay structure – but City would have no problem shelling out that kind of cash for a player who would fit neatly alongside his mate De Jong in midfield.
Meanwhile, City have warned Udinese that they won’t be used to push up the price for winger Alexis Sanchez.
The Italians are seeking at least £44m for the Chilean star, 22, who is also being watched by United, Inter, Juventus and Barcelona.
But City won’t pay more than £30m – and firmly believe that kind of offer will be too much for any other side to match.
Udinese owner Gianpaolo Pozzo said: “If he was to leave, I would say that City have the highest probability of success.” But any deal looks like it needs to be struck before Friday, when Sanchez plays his first game for Chile in the Copa America.
Man City Prepare Incredible £64m Double Swoop for Star Midfield Pair
Manchester City are preparing an incredible double swoop for Javier Pastore and Marko Marin, The Sun have reported.
Palermo star Pastore is valued at £44m and chairman Maurizio Zamparani, who has always been open about the 22-year-old's future, claimed City lead the race to sign him.
"I spoke with Pastore's agent this week and there are six or seven clubs on him," he revealed. "He's destined for a great team and will head to Spain or England."
Zamparini, who admitted a few weeks ago that the club had received and subsequently rejected a £30m offer from Chelsea, believes Pastore will become one of the best players in the world and is already worth double Neymar - the highly sought-after Brazilian striker.
"Pastore is worth two Neymars," he added. "He is one of those who will win the Ballon d'Or in the coming years.
"Like him there are only Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Iniesta, Rooney - and this quality player is only 22 years old."
Meanwhile, it appears mega-rich City have turned their attentions to Werder Bremen midfielder Marin after losing out on number one target Alexis Sanchez to Barcelona.
City had hoped to take Chilean winger Sanchez to Eastlands as their marquee summer signing but have been beaten to his signature by the European champions.
Midfielder Marin, who is valued at £20m, impressed against Tottenham in last season's Champions League group stage,
The set-piece specialist can play through the middle or on the left wing and, at 22, is seen as one of the brightest talents in Europe.
Villa plotting shock bid to bring back former star from Man City
Aston Villa are plotting an audacious £14million bid to bring James Milner back from Manchester City.
New boss Alex McLeish has the England midfielder – sold less than a year ago for a club record £23m – on his hit list.
McLeish admitted: “Darren Bent has been in sensational form scoring goals for this club since he signed in January, but he needs a supplier and the ammunition to carry that on.”
Milner, 25, is worried after falling down the pecking order at Eastlands – he started just five of the last 20 games of the season.
MANCHESTER CITY will let keeper David Gonzalez stay at Aberdeen next season after initially signing a deal until Christmas.
The Colombian, 28, was on loan at Leeds last term. Star
City unable to sell seven unwanted first-team players costing the club £30m a year in wages
Manchester City face the prospect of a £30million wage bill next season for players that manager Roberto Mancini no longer wants.
Mancini is desperate to ditch Emmanuel Adebayor, Craig Bellamy, Roque Santa Cruz, Wayne Bridge, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Jo and Nedum Onuoha from his first-team squad, but has found his plans hamstrung by the astronomical salaries that players are banking at Eastlands. City are ready to take huge losses on a group of players recruited by former boss Mark Hughes who cost the club a staggering £85m in transfer fees alone.
But so far there have been no takers, with clubs unwilling to meet either City’s cut-price valuations or the big-money deals currently being paid at Eastlands.
Adebayor, who cost £25m when he arrived from Arsenal two seasons ago on a deal worth £130,000-a-week, is being touted around Europe for £14m.
The striker is refusing to contemplate a move to Zenit St Petersburg, while Marseille want City to slash their asking price and subsidise his wages.
Bridge and Bellamy, who cost a combined figure of £24m, are both on £90,000 a week, while £18m misfit Roque Santa Cruz, who earns slightly less, is wanted back at Backburn only if he slashes his £80,000-a-week earnings.
Jo, the Brazilian signed for an initial £6m in a deal that would have cost City £12m more if it had been a success, is also surplus to requirements as are homegrown pair Wright-Phillips and Onuhoa.
The salaries of unwanted players add up to a mindblowing £550,000-a-week – or close to £30m over the course of a season without bonuses.
City have the resources to manage these luxuries thanks to the riches of their Abu Dhabi-based owners but they are looking to balance their books ahead of the forthcoming implementation of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations.
A City insider said: “Unless there is some movement of players out of the club in the next 10 days this promises to the biggest test of Roberto’s management skills that he has ever faced.
“There is a group of players set to report back to the club who have been made aware that he doesn’t rate them and he doesn’t want them around the place.
“The big question is how will he manage players? What will he do with them because they aren’t part of his plans and he won’t want them in and around the first-team squad?”
OTHER BOLLOX
Gareth Bale will demand to leave Tottenham if the club sells Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, who is wanted by Chelsea. Sunday Mirror
But Spurs are prepared to make Modric the highest-paid player in their history if he agrees to stay at White Hart Lane - the 25-year-old could earn as much as £90,000 a week. Mail on Sunday
But Chelsea are also interested in him, with sources in Italy claiming new boss Andre Villas-Boas has already spoken to the player. News of the World
Toulouse's Moussa Sissoko is in negotiations with Liverpool and Newcastle over a potential transfer, while Inter and Lyon are also interested. Goal
Manchester United have joined Manchester City and Real Madrid in the £25m race for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani. Caught Offside
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung is wanted by Italian giants Juventus. Sunday Mirror
Aston Villa's Stewart Downing, 26, must hand in a transfer request in order to secure an £18m switch to Liverpool. Mail on Sunday
Newcastle are attempting to hijack Darron Gibson's proposed £5m move from Manchester United to Sunderland. Sunday Mirror
Nottingham Forest boss Steve McClaren is set to make £2m Blackburn midfielder and out-of-contract former Reds winger Andy Reid his first signings at the City Ground. Mail on Sunday
Bayern Munich are lining up a bid for Manchester United winger Nani, following the arrival of Ashley Young at Old Trafford. Mail on Sunday
Tottenham have still not given up hope of signing David Beckham when his Los Angeles Galaxy contract expires in November News of the World
Italy's World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, 37, could be on his way to newly promoted QPR after being released by Dubai club Al Ahli News of the World
Raul Meireles could be on his way out of Liverpool after just one season as he has not been offered the improved contract which he says he was told would be his in return for joining the club on reduced terms. Sunday Times
Scott Parker looks destined to leave West Ham because they cannot afford his wages. Mail on Sunday
Arsenal are set to hand 19-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere a new long-term contract. Sunday Mirror
Belarus have secured the fourth and final European spot in the 2012 Olympic football tournament, joining hosts Great Britain, Spain and Switzerland. Sunday Telegraph
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has cut back on catering and security guards and even told people to use black and white photocopiers rather than colour ones in a bid to reduce the club's expenditure. Observer
