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Manchester City have sounded out Arsenal over a £20million deal for Emmanuel Adebayor. Although no official talks have yet taken place, initial enquiries have been met by manager Arsene Wenger with a willingness to allow the striker to leave Emirates Stadium.
Standard Sport understands City are attempting to seal a deal for former Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez in the next 48 hours before turning their attentions to Adebayor.
It is thought relations between the striker and Wenger have become strained since the player courted a move to AC Milan last summer.
Adebayor is understood to be keen to leave and would prefer to remain in the Premier League rather than move abroad. The 25-year-old signed a new long-term contract 12 months ago in a deal worth £80,000-a-week but City, backed by the billions of the Abu Dhabi United Group, will have little qualms in boosting that figure beyond £100,000-a-week.
The Togolese scored just 15 goals in 33 appearances last season and is regarded in certain quarters as a disruptive figure in the dressing room.
His relationship with Arsenal fans has also become strained after a season of poor performances in big matches, notably in the two legs of the Champions League semi-final against United.
City refused to comment on a possible transfer this morning, while Arsenal adopted their customary position of not responding to any player speculation.
Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh has been touted as a possible replacement for Adebayor, whose departure would leave just Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Eduardo and Carlos Vela as the squad's only recognised forwards.
Adebayor's agent, Stephane Courbis, was unavailable for comment today.
Wenger, meanwhile, has been told by his Fulham counterpart Roy Hodgson to forget about trying to sign Brede Hangeland. The Arsenal boss is admirer of the 28-year-old and is thought to be in the market for another centre-back following the £10m arrival of Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax.
Hangeland has just two years left on his deal and recently rejected a double-your-money offer of £30,000-a-week to stay in west London. But Hodgson insists the man he signed 18 months ago for only £2.5m from FC Copenhagen will not be leaving this summer.
He said: “We don't intend to sell him and he's very happy at the club. We've even offered him a new contract, which I think he's mulling over. Because he hasn't immediately jumped at the chance of a new contract, people are suggesting that there will be some movement. But I will be surprised if he moved.”
Reader views (10)
Hughes and his piggybank are a godsend for the likes of Terry and Adebayor. Overrated and soon to be found out, they want one last big payday. Up pops the desperate Hughes with his cheque book, JT and Ade threaten to walk and, hey presto, the new contract appears.
- Hack, Brentwood
On a bit of an educational bent this morning people.
I've been struggling since Mark Hughes took over to think of other ways of saying "The absolute epitomy of the phrase, 'More money than sense'" - but I can't. Can any of you lot help me?
Also, is there a mathematical calculation that expresses the number of strikers Mark Hughes signs per day relative to the speed of light?
Citeh to finish same as last season.
- Stu, Beckton
Pedro dont be a mug... Just like JT he sees a blue moon rising
CTID
- Failsworth Blue, Failsworth m/cr
just seen this on sky sports news, it is ridiculous at the fact they are buying for the sake of it, they have bellamy, robinho, and tevez soon aswell as 6 other strikers..... what ere they gunna do the rest and at least 2 great strikers will -be left out of the 1st team 11...... Arsenal should hang on and mark hughes use money on better players for midfield and defence + back off from chelsea and arsenal. !
I support chelsea but would like to see arsenal do good in the pl, mancity are getting on peoples nerves,and in a way have a different approach as the current top 4 have done proper business to get to tht position !
- Scott Lawson, Southend
Hope the Lord it's true. In more than 40 years of supporting Arsenal I've never wanted a player to leave as much as him.
- Marie, Bodrum, Turkey
The disfunctional squad (pedro Dubai ) turned Arsenal over with ease at eastlands last season. The only team who will be staving off relegation will be the gunners,on that form. Adebayor allways plays well at City. I think he needs a new challenge ,from a team on the up. Not one with no money on the way down. Watch and see . Mark hughes we trust.
- Nick, Stockport Manchester
£20m?!!!!! I'd expect at least £30m, not because he's necessarily worth it but because of City's large coffers and the current market.
I don't think he'll actually leave, I think it's just a case of City banging their heads against a brick wall, like with John Terry and Chelsea, to prove that they've got ambition.
But if Arsenal do accept then I would hope we'd get a fair amount more than £20m otherwise we're being taken for mugs.
- Steve, London
Lovely price for a second-rate, lazy, walkabout with a cigar type of player.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex
Rats leaving a sinking ship springs to mind....
- Rob, London
I thought Mark Hughes was an ambitious Manager. Does he really want these signings, are they just being imposed on him. It looks like becoming a disfunctional squad capable of possibly staving off relegation, but certainly not finishing in the top four!!! Come on guys is this just newspaper talk as there appears to be little else to write about. As for Adebayor well I am sure a large section of the Arsenal supporters will not cry too much if he departs for the grass thats not so green on the other side of the fence!!!
- Pedro, Dubai UAE
