Man City Set To Join Spurs In January Race For Diarra?

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is set to make a £10million offer for Tottenham Hotspur transfer target, Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra in January. City are also ready to offer the French International, a staggering £85,00-a-week in order to beat off any rival offer by the North London club, according to The Mirror.

23-year-old Diarra has only been at Pompey since his transfer from Arsenal in January and is under contract at Fratton Park until 2011, but it is understood that new manager Tony Adams will have to sell players in when the transfer window reopens in January after taking over from Harry Redknapp at the South coast side.

New Spurs boss Redknapp has also been linked with a move for Diarra in January, with Tottenham lacking a midfield general at White Hart Lane since the departure of Michael Carrick to Premier League Champions Manchester United in 2006. Tottenham are also understood to have had an offer for the Frenchman turned down during the summer, while Redknapp was still in charge at Portsmouth.

Although Tottenham still remain favourites to sign Diarra due to Redknapp’s, existing relationship with the midfielder. City are in a position to offer the former Chelsea player far more in the way of personal terms now that the Manchester club are being bankrolled by the ADUG. Which could see Diarra opt for the Eastlands Stadium rather than a reunion with Redknapp at White Hart Lane.