City will not dramatically increase their bid for Arsenal’s Samir Nasri and will turn back to Fiorentina winger Alessio Cerci if the London club do not relent.
City have already had a £20m bid for Nasri knocked back by Arsenal as Arsene Wenger desperately tries to prevent his squad falling to pieces ahead of the new season.
It is understood that City are not prepared to go much higher for the French forward as they know they could try again in January, by which time the 24-year-old will only have six months left on his Arsenal contract.
City are prepared to pay slightly more for Nasri and remain confident that Wenger’s hand will be forced by an Arsenal board that knows it cannot afford to see Nasri’s value plummet between now and next summer.
However, City will not go to the £25m that has been suggested this week and it is more likely City boss Roberto Mancini will move for Italian winger Cerci, 24, as a stop-gap as he will be considerably cheaper.