MANCHESTER CITY believe they have won a £42million race for Carlos Tevez and Gareth Barry.
The richest club in the world are ready to rubber-stamp a £32m deal to steal Tevez away from city rivals United. And they will offer £10m-rated Barry £90,000 a week to see off Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs.
The move for Argentinian striker Tevez, 25, also blows Liverpool and Chelsea out of the chase with City happy to meet Kia Joorabchian's £32m asking price.
Liverpool's bid for the former West Ham forward was the lowest offer received. Boss Mark Hughes will also pay Tevez nearly £140,000 a week in a four-year deal.
Joorabchian will have one final meeting with Old Trafford chiefs this week to find out whether Sir Alex Ferguson sees Tevez as anything more than a bit-part player.
Those assurances are unlikely - leaving the way clear for City.
Hughes is in the Middle East to talk about transfer targets with City's Abu Dhabi owners and has made it clear he sees Tevez as vital to the club.
City are much further down the road with Tevez than Barry. But they are confident their financial clout will get them the Aston Villa captain.
Liverpool felt they were in pole position after their abortive attempt to land Barry, 28, last summer.
But the Reds are unable to match the Arabs' vast wealth.Barry could yet decide he values Champions League football over money but Eastlands officials are confident of getting their man.
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if this comes true then where would that leave us with the whole Alonso thing ?!
Its become something of a given that if Alonso leaves he'll be replaced with Barry in something of a straight swap... Barry has offers from numerous clubs and could very well end up signing a new contract with Villa from what i've heard, they apparently offered him a much improved contract and he's been advised to stay there to help his WorldCup chances...