British tabloid The Sun reports that Manchester City aremulling over a€26 million bid for Yaya Toure, the Barcelona midfielder.
Sky Blues boss Mark Hughes is desperate to draft ina tough-tackling enforcer to shore up what has proved to be a rather soft centre at times this season.
The likes of Marcos Senna, Esteban Cambiasso and, in particular, Lassana Diarra have been linked with the Premier League outfit, but now Hughes has turned his gaze toward the Camp Nou.
Speculation has arisen over Toure's future in the past few months, as the Ivorian hashad to battle for a starting spotat Barca since Seydou Keita's arrival in the summer.
But the 25-year-old recently stated that he had no intention of leaving the Catalan giants, who are similarly eager to keep of their most muscular middle-man.
An unnamed source said: "There is an offer for Yaya but the club will do what is necessary to convince the player to stay."
City will draw on their vast wealth to try and tempt Toure to England, though, as it is understood they will offer himover €5 millionper year - roughly twice what he currently earns.
Arsenal defender Kolo Toure, Yaya's brother, has also been targeted by the Manchester club, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger denied the 27-year-old's recent transfer request.
Mike Maguire, Goal.com
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