Pellegrini eyeing Di Maria for Man City title challenge

London: Incoming Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini is reportedly set to ask the Etihad chiefs to sanction a move for 30 million-pound worth Real Madrid star Angel di Maria after the club splashed out 50 million pounds on Jesus Navas and Fernandinho.

After giving his approval to the arrival of Sevilla wideman Navas, whose came to City under a 17 million-pound switch, the former Malaga boss has made Di Maria his next target as City prepares to break the bank to win back the Premier League title, the Mirror reports. According to the report, the prospective arrival of Di Maria would take City`s summer spending past the 80 million-pound mark as the wealthy football club has already splashed out more than 50 million pounds on Navas and Brazil star Fernandinho. However, the report mentioned that Di Maria might prove to be the most elusive signing as Real has no particular desire to sell him with Carlo Ancelotti, shortly to be unveiled as Real`s new boss, viewing the Argentine as an important cog in his Bernabeu squad. The report also added that Real president Florentino Perez is ready to play hard-ball over Di Maria, who signed for Madrid for 20 million pounds in 2010 in a five-year deal, and will demand a similar fee to the 34 million pounds that City paid for Fernandinho. ANI