According to the Daily Mail Manchester City is prepared to offer Southampton a world record fee for a defender of £30 million should the Saints be willing to sell Luke Shaw.
Southampton and Shaw have both said that they do not want to get involved in any negotiations until the summer, but City are ready to outbid any other club should the left-back suddenly become available this month.
City manager Manuel Pellegrini is convinced that Shaw is the long term answer to City’s left-back position, and should the youngster arrive at the Etihad it would free Aleksandar Kolarov to return to Italy.
Top-class English players are at a premium, and Manchester City know that they must do all they can to maintain the quota of at least eight home grown players in their Premiership squad.
Gareth Barry is currently on loan at Everton and will leave at the end of the season, while Scott Sinclair and Jack Rodwell have both failed to get a regular spot in the team.
