Newly crowned English Premier League champions Manchester City have stepped up their efforts to sign Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and Atletico Madrid hitman Radamel Falcao in order to bolster their attack ahead of the start of the new season with an eye on UEFA Champions League glory. It is being believed that The Citizens will have to part with over £ 80 million to get their hands on two of South America’s biggest attacking talents but they also know that in light of the Financial Fair Play regulations that come into effect after this season, they will have to curtail their wage bill and have decided to part ways with the likes of Roque Santa Cruz, Emmanuel Adebayor, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez, sources have reported.
If Roberto Mancini does manage to get his hands on these two striker, City will boast of three of best strikers and goal scoring threats from South America, with Argentina international striker Sergio Aguero already in their team. However, if the reports out of Italy and Spain are to be believed, neither Atletico Madrid nor Napoli will let go of their prized assets, at least for one more season. But it must be said that Atletico are in a far better position to hold on to their star striker than Napoli after The Azzurri failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and will only be limited to UEFA Europa League football.
Ezekiel Lavezzi, the Argentine striker of Napoli is already on the verge of moving to big spending French side Paris Saint Germain, who like City, are also funded by oil money from the Middle East and in such a scenario, Napoli will find it hard to hold on to Cavani for long. Although, near the end of last season, Aurelio de Laurentis, the president of Napoli had stated that it would take an astronomical offer from any interested party to get them to part with any of their star trio, including Cavani, Lavezzi and Slovakian midfielder Marek Hamsik.
City hope to be able to land the Uruguayan striker for around £ 40 million but if reports in Italy are to be believed, the 25 year old favors a move to Juventus who have also been linked to him rather than moving to the English Premier League. He had also vowed to stay with Napoli for another season but as nothing can be guaranteed in the frantic world of football, City still hope of landing the star striker.
On the other hand, Atletico Madrid has also issued hands off warning to potential suitors of Falcao. The Colombian international joined the Madrid side from Porto last season and has led them to UEFA Europa League success. Chelsea were also said to be interested in the striker but the £ 40 million plus price tag of the striker, who joined for a fee of £ 35 million have scared The Blues away, leaving The Citizens as the only contenders for the signature of the Colombian.