Manchester City will reportedly steal a march on rivals Manchester United by triggering Juan Cuadrado's £28m release clause with Fiorentina.
United have been heavily linked with the Colombia international in recent weeks but Manuel Pellegrini is said to have joined the race for the 26-year-old winger.
City will look to pip their bitter rivals to Cuadrado - whose contract expires in 2019 - and capitalise on the Red Devils' limited funds.
On Tuesday, United announced a drop in revenue due to their Champions League absence and, according to The Express, the Sky Blues smell blood and will meet the South American's big-money release clause.
Cuadrado has scored once and bagged three assists from nine Serie A outings so far this season.
