Sport - Football

Manchester City agrees on fee for Wayne Bridge

LONDON: Manchester City has agreed an undisclosed fee with Chelsea for left back Wayne Bridge, manager Mark Hughes said on Friday.

Hughes confirmed that City has agreed an undisclosed fee with the Blues and he hopes to conclude the deal in the next 24 hours.

My understanding is the clubs have agreed a fee,” he said. “We need to speak to the boy and try to agree personal terms.

“If we can do that hopefully Wayne will be a Manchester City player, that’s the aim.

“Wayne will probably travel to Manchester and hopefully negotiations will go well and he can have a medical on Saturday.”

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has to sell before he can buy in the window and he admitted he would have no problem letting Bridge leave.

“If they have a good deal, it is no problem for me,” Scolari said. “But it is best you ask (chief executive) Peter Kenyon as he knows everything that is happening.

“I have a meeting with Peter after training and I will ask him then about what is happening and whether we have a deal or not.

“If any club wants to buy a player from Chelsea, they have to offer big money because if they play for Chelsea they are very good players.

“When a club wants one player from Chelsea my advice is offer but don’t offer less, offer big, because Chelsea is a very big club and has fantastic players.”

Scolari had made it clear late last year that he was keen to sign an attacking player to bolster his options, but he insists he has yet to ask the board to fund any new signings.

“I don’t say to Peter that I need to buy some players — I have a good squad,” he said.

“I have not spoken to Peter about anything for five days. If I want a player I tell Peter first but I have not done so in 2008 or today. I’m happy with my players here, I don’t want other players.” — Agencies

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