Manchester City's prospective new owner has revealed the club have lodged bids for Valencia striker David Villa and Stuttgart forward Mario Gomez as well as Dimitar Berbatov ahead of tonight's transfer deadline.
Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who is heading the Abu Dhabi United Group's takeover of the Barclays Premier League club, said that he is "hopeful" a deal for Tottenham's Berbatov can be agreed before midnight after a fee of more than £30million was agreed.
However, Villa and Gomez are also on the radar.
"I am hopeful about Berbatov, but I need to speak to our colleagues in England to see what the latest is," he said.
"We have bids in for three players. There is Berbatov, but there is also David Villa and Mario Gomez. We have bids in for Villa and Gomez and I am waiting to hear whether we have been successful with those (offers).
"Funds are available, and transfers such as these show we are serious."
Villa was top scorer at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, netting four goals in Spain's triumphant campaign.
Gomez scored at the weekend in Stuttgart's 2-0 win Hannover in the Bundesliga, and struck 22 goals in all competitions last season.
Al-Fahim admitted that City are in a race against time to bring in players before the transfer deadline in a few hours' time, but added that significant investment is sure to follow in the winter transfer window.
"The three players we are trying to bring in are good players, but it has been difficult because we only started (takeover) negotiations a couple of weeks ago," Al-Fahim added.
"We haven't had a lot of time, but our idea is to bring in more players during the next transfer window.
"I don't want to put a figure on what will be available (for squad strengthening), like £100million, because more than that might be needed."
Al-Fahim also gave his backing to manager Mark Hughes, who is set to benefit from the huge transfer kitty available.
"We are happy with him," Al-Fahim added. "We need to sit down with him and discuss his targets. He has our support and we will give him the authority to sign the players he wants to sign."
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Comment 1 - 5 of 5
Arrogance, carlyjane? City were 'no-one' yesterday? You're not a rag, are you?
Arrogance would be saying that they were coming, or publishing a photograph of a player in the club shirt before a deal had been done; but what's the beef about making a bid? And just look at Chelsea. They were a club very much like City not so long ago: a decent team, but not the best - and they hadn't won the league since just after the war. That didn't stop money talking and top players coming in, did it? I think that you're the one in the fantasy world, dearie!
This is a very exciting time for the club,at last city will have the investment that they need and deserve.
I think the goals that they have set may be unrealistic at the moment but when you splash the cash anything is possible,thats what chelsea did.
Well as a City fan of 30+ years standing I welcome this news. Speculation over the last few weeks has minifested itself in the player's performances on the pitch, hopefull now as a club we can move on and become the team we should be!! Players will come if they can be shown that the bosses are seriously committed to the cause, they came before for Eriksson, why wouldn't they for Mark Hughes?? Watch this space, this is the beginning of a golden era for City at long last, it's been a long time coming and the fans will embrace it!!
Football has finally been tipped over the edge, its no longer about skill and glory but who has the fattest bank account. Sad to say it but, " they think its all over, it is now" GOD REST FOOTBALL IN PEACE. RIP 01/09/2008
omg! seriously what are Manchester City doing??? fair does concerning the takeover but such arrogance on the very 1st day?? trying to buy all these players immediately without even considering the fact that yesterday they were no-one and European players of such quality would scoff at moving there. until they have established themselves as serious players in the epl why would anyone sign for them on the whim of some billionnaire who seems to be living in a fantasy world???
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