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Valencia put £121 million tag on Villa to ward off City

07/09/2008

Manchester City would have to splash out £121 million to sign Spain striker David Villa, according to Valencia's president.

New City owner Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim has hinted the Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment could go on a spending spree in the January transfer window.

Striker Villa, who top-scored at Euro 2008 with four goals, is thought to be high on the list of City’s big-spending owners.

The 26-year-old was linked with a move to Chelsea and Liverpool over the summer, but signed a new deal last month to keep him at the Mestalla until 2014.

And Vicente Soriano, Valencia's president, told the Daily Star newspaper: "They would have to pay his release cause - £121million."

Villa's agent, Jose Luis Tamargo, added: "Villa has said he intends to remain in Valencia, where they want to keep him for a long while.

"He has never wanted to play in English football."

Dr Al-Fahim has already claimed that City will bid £135 million to lure Cristiano Ronaldo away from rivals Manchester United.

City will also bid for Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien, according to reports today.