Man City ready to compete with Liverpool for Arsenal defender

The season is almost a month old and yet the biggest spenders in the Premier League over the last few years have yet to be given the chance to open their chequebooks, however Manchester City are expected to change that imminently.

The target thought to have been highest on Roberto Mancini’s wish list, Udinese and Chile star Alexis Sanchez, appears set to join Champions League winners Barcelona, while the rest of the transfer talk at Eastlands has involved current stars heading for the exit.

But while the likes of Jerome Boateng and Carlos Tevez aren’t sure to start the 2011-12 campaign with the Champions League newcomers, there are plenty of players keen to be a part of the Citizens’ first bid for European glory since their 2008 takeover.

And if we were current left back Aleksandar Kolarov, we’d be a bit worried about our prospects of regular first-team football given the volume of players being linked with the club that play in his position.

One of those is Arsenal’s full back Gael Clichy, who has just a year remaining on his contract at the Emirates and isn’t believed to be too close to agreeing an extension, though an intense battle with Liverpool for his signature is likely.

The Daily Express claim that the Reds have already had a £5 million offer for the French international rejected because the Gunners are holding out for £8 million and if Manchester City hold a genuine interest, there is no doubt that they can afford him.

Another supposed candidate is Clichy’s compatriot Aly Cissokho, who is currently employed by Lyon, although it has been suggested that Liverpool will once again stand in their way. Mancini’s men are 7/2 to win the Premier League next season.