Mail online reporting new bid for Pepe and Jolo is being offered a contract extension
City set for new bid for Real defender Pepe with Lescott poised for new deal
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 22:41, 16 July 2013 | UPDATED: 22:44, 16 July 2013
Manchester City are weighing up a fresh move for Real Madrid defender Pepe despite plans to offer Joleon Lescott a new contract.
City, who have closed a £24.5million deal for Sevilla striker Alvaro Negredo, have had a £15m bid rejected by Madrid, whose new boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen to keep the Portugal centre back. He is set to lose Raul Albiol to Napoli.
But Ancelotti has been told he must sell to help finance new signings and City must decide whether to raise their offer nearer £20m for a player who turned 30 this year.
City bound? Pepe could be leaving Real Madrid after being the subject of a new big by Manchester City
Rebuild: New City boss Manuel Pellegrini wants the Real Madrid defender to boost his squad
Either way, they have already decided to give Lescott a new one-year deal with director of football Txiki Begiristain set to open talks with the England defender and his representatives over the next 48 hours.
Lescott has one year left on his contract.
Sevilla president Jose Maria Del Nido warned that the Negredo deal was on the brink of collapse, but it is understood that the two clubs are close to completing a transfer worth £21.5m with £3m in add-ons.
Negredo is expected to confirm the move today.
City are also trying to finalise terms on a deal for Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic.
Here to stay: England defender Joleon Lescott is currently negotiating a new deal at the Etihad Stadium
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