Manchester have slapped a world-record £80million price tag on Real Madrid target David Silva.
The Premier League champions are fearful Real are trying to unsettle the brilliant midfielder, who plays for Spain in Sunday night’s Euro 2012 Final against Italy.
City hope that Real will now drop their interest after being told to put up or shut up by valuing Silva at the same world-record fee paid for Cristiano Ronaldo three years ago.
Reports in Spain have suggested that Real coach Jose Mourinho has been given a £45m budget to get Silva.
He is also prepared to offer Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain in part exchange.
But City have no intention of selling Silva, recruited from Valencia for £26m two seasons ago after Madrid failed to follow up their interest in the player.
The Blues have already opened talks with Silva, 26, about extending his contract by a further two years to 2016.
It would keep the Gran Canaria-born midfielder at the club for the peak years of his career and earn him an incredible £220,000-a-week.
But Etihad bosses have become perturbed by the constant speculation.
Source : Mirror.co.uk
