Mark Hughes sets sights on back up plan for when John Terry say’s “no thank you”!

SOCCER 2009: Barcelona Draw Villarreal 3-3

The Rumour

City, also interested in Carles Puyol of Barcelona, will continue to pursue Terry and are poised to up their offer to £35m.

Both City boss Hughes and centre-back Terry holidayed at the exclusive Jumeirah Beach complex. Each had a villa on the sea front.

City are very keen to land Terry. But Barca captain and Spanish international defender Puyol, 31, is seen as the back-up alternative if they fail to net their first choice.

Barca are bracing themselves for another fight with City, to add to the one over Samuel Eto’o, and do not want to lose Puyol. City, though, are in talks with Puyol’s advisers and lining up a big-money offer.

The Source: (The Sun)

The Analysis

Now this is the kind of daring deal that might just pay off. Carlos Puyol is obviously something of a legendary figure at the Nou Camp but he has found himself dropped towards the end of last season and with Gerard Pique coming on leaps and bounds and some believing that Rafael Marquez is a more reliable defensive partner for the former Man United man and if you add into the mix up coming Victor Sanchez as well as solid back up Gabriel Milito it could give Puyol second thoughts about turning down a money making move to Eastlands.

Having won it all at Barcelona Puyol it wouldn’t be considered the height of mercenary behaviour for the Spanish international to give a move to Eastlands a try, in turn Mark Hughes gets a vastly experienced centre back, albeit one who can make the odd mistake or two.

The Likelihood

Puyol to Man City: Could well just happen

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