City also chasing Villa and Gomez

Manchester City’s prospective new owner has revealed the club have lodged bids for Valencia striker David Villa and Stuttgart forward Mario Gomez as well as Dimitar Berbatov ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.

Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who is heading the Abu Dhabi United Group’s takeover of the Barclays Premier League club, said that he is “hopeful” a deal for Tottenham’s Berbatov can be agreed before midnight after a fee of more than £30m was agreed.

However, Villa and Gomez are also on the radar.

“I am hopeful about Berbatov, but I need to speak to our colleagues in England to see what the latest is,” he said.

“We have bids in for three players. There is Berbatov, but there is also David Villa and Mario Gomez. We have bids in for Villa and Gomez and I am waiting to hear whether we have been successful with those (offers).

“Funds are available, and transfers such as these show we are serious.”