City plan £25m raid for Everton star

Leighton Baines has been linked with a host of top European clubs this summer, including German giants Bayern Munich, local rivals Liverpool and the recent FA Cup winners, Manchester City.

Everton will struggle to keep hold of their prized asset, but will look to get heavily compensated for the former Wigan man. The Merseysiders stood their ground when City came calling for Joleon Lescott and managed to get an astonishing £24million for the versatile defender.

But City will be looking to address the left back position as they get their Champions League campaign underway. Aleksandr Kolarov has yet to justify his hefty £16 million price tag, Jerome Boateng is already being linked with a move back to Germany, while Wayne Bridge will return from a loan stint at relegated West Ham.

Mancini will be looking to bolster his squad in the summer, the Italian said “I don’t think we need a lot of new players but I do feel that, this year, we should take Tottenham as an example.

“Tottenham played in the Champions League until the quarter-finals and in the Premier League will be fifth or sixth.

“It is difficult in the league if you do not have a big squad, so you can change six or seven players every game. If not, it is difficult to play in the Champions League.”