Real Madrid are set to make a shock swoop for Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor in a deal worth a reported £20 million. The Bernabeu giants are understood to have singled out the Togo striker as a suitable replacement for Didier Drogba whom they failed to lure away from Stamford Bridge with Chelsea insisting their prized asset is not for sale.
Real boss Jose Mourinho has surprisingly deemed Adebayor – a controversial character who has had several brushes with discipline and possesses a questionable attitude – as a player who would improve the quality of the squad at his disposal. The Portuguese is known to prefer reuniting with Drogba whom he signed for Chelsea in 2004 in a deal worth £24 million but the Blues have slammed the door shut on that possibility despite the Ivorian Coast captain privately admitting his willingness to move to the Bernabeu.
While Adebayor has insisted that despite the increasing competition for places at Eastlands he is willing to stay and fight for his place – no doubt in part due to the large wage packet he receives from City – the striker has also made a point on several occasions that he would like clubs like Juventus to come for him if they would like to.
A less than convincing debut season with City last season also led to Adebayor spending more time on the bench as manager Roberto Mancini has never regarded the striker good enough to be his first choice. The former Arsenal star also began the season as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur in the club’s season opener.
Real are putting together a £20 million package to hopefully convince City to release Adebayor and with Mancini having to decide on his final 25-man Premier League squad soon, the Eastlands club may be willing to listen to any offers.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson would also be hoping for Real to land their transfer target, as it could possibly mean the availability of French striker Karim Benzema, of whom Ferguson is a keen admirer of.
United have yet to make a marquee signings this summer and with increasing fan pressure, the Red Devils may have to act in case Benzema is available for a switch as Mourinho continues to appear less than convinced by the striker’s quality in fitting into his plans.
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