Manchester City will make a last-minute attempt to sign Brazil star Neymar, reports the Daily Mail.
Barcelona have a pre-contract with the player worth around £50million to his current club Santos, but now City have joined Real Madrid in the race for his signature.
Neymar agreed to join the Catalan club either this summer or after the 2014 World Cup, and will have to pay a huge amount of compensation should he break his promise.
But City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain is believed to have made it clear to the Brazilian that the costs of any compensation will be covered by the club, whilst also offering him a better salary.
Barcelona are aware that other clubs can legitimately buy out the deal, and will be worried to see their La Liga nemesis Real Madrid linked.
Neymar could easily slot into the Sky Blues’ side, and could replace Carlos Tevez, who has a year left on his contract worth around £200,000 a week.
The 21-year-old is expected to be the star of Brazil’s hosting of the World Cup next year, after playing like nobody else at Santos, Pele’s former club.