Manchester City boss Mark Hughes made a new £8million bid for Arsenal’s unhappy star Kolo Toure last night as he led the way in the transfer window.
Hughes hopes to close the deal for the Ivory Coast centre-half over the weekend as the Gunners realise he is unsettled and keen to join the City revolution.
Toure also knows that City have at least two other alternative targets - West Ham’s Matthew Upson and Everton’s Joleon Lescott - if he does not make this deal happen quickly and that has added to the urgency.
Hughes has been increasing his offers for Toure over the past few days after deciding that the Hammers had over-valued injury-prone Upson at £10m.
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Everton will not do a deal over Lescott, which leaves Toure as the clear choice. City skipper Richard Dunne’s future is now clouded in doubt by the imminent arrival. He signed a new deal last summer but relations between him and the manager are described as ‘cold’.
Arsene Wenger could replace Toure but is more likely to use the cash to fund bids for other areas in his side.
Hughes, who has already signed £12m Wayne Bridge from Chelsea, now looks to strikers David Villa and Roque Santa Cruz.
