Real Madrid make firm offer to sign Manchester City striker

Of the four chief strikers currently in the Manchester City ranks, Sergio Aguero is the one that Roberto Mancini would most certainly want to retain, but he may have trouble persuading the Argentine not to sign for Real Madrid.

Aguero’s desire to play for Real Madrid is well known as he attempted to push through a move to the club when previously playing for Atletico Madrid.

However, Atletico refused to orchestrate the sale of their best player to their main rivals.

But Manchester City could now unwillingly find themselves as the middle men and Real Madrid are ready to try to sign Aguero for the second summer running.

According to reports from the Spanish newspaper AS, Real Madrid have already shown their hand and offered Manchester City Gonzalo Higuain and €10m for Aguero.

This could prove a good deal, but if Aguero leaves, Manchester City will need a striker of a similar mould, who is light on his feet and able to wriggle some space in the box.

Although Higuain knows the way to goal, his size makes him more of a robust physical striker, which the club already arguably have with Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli.

Robin Van Persie is not a like-for-like replacement for Aguero, but would offer something different to the other strikers at Manchester City.

Mancini would be in a strong position to sign the Dutchman should he decide to leave Arsenal, especially if Real Madrid agree terms with Aguero, as they are their biggest challengers to gain his signature.

But the one problem may prove whether Van Persie and his family would be content to live in Manchester.

Manchester United’s late win over Blackburn have now seen Manchester City drift out to 5/1 in the Premier League odds to secure the title this season.