Real willing to trade Higuain and £8.5m for Aguero

London: Manchester City will resist any attempts by Real Madrid to take their record £38 million (Dh223 million) signing Sergio Aguero back to Spain this summer.

Reports from the Middle East and Madrid on Tuesday indicated that Bernabeu president Florentino Perez is stepping up his interest in Aguero his No. 1 summer target and will offer Gonzalo Higuain plus £8.5 million in exchange.

It is claimed that Aguero's family have struggled to settle in England and that the 23-year-old former Atletico Madrid striker would be open to a return to Spain.

His father-in-law Diego Maradona told an Argentine radio station: "Kun [Aguero] has to play for Madrid. Even though he is flying at City, the best thing would have been to sign for Madrid. He made a mistake.

"If Madrid want someone, they get them. Florentino has no limits. It's a question of convincing City, but not with money because they have plenty of that."

However, City believe the speculation is designed to unsettle Aguero, who has scored 24 goals so far this season, and insist they have no intention of selling a player who only last week said that "the fans can rest assured I'm happy here."

Assurances

It is also believed that Atletico had assurances from City that Aguero would not be sold to their Madrid rivals for a period of two years.

The timing could hardly be worse for manager Roberto Mancini, however, with his team faltering in the Barclays Premier League title race.

City are desperate to keep Aguero, but are willing to listen to offers for Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez. Emmanuel Adebayor and Roque Santa Cruz will also move on. Mancini maintains an interest in the unsettled Higuain, but Aguero would be off limits in any negotiations.

Meanwhile, City defender Joleon Lescott, who has missed the last five games with a groin injury, expects to be back in contention for Sunday's League trip to Arsenal. He tweeted: "I'm defo fit now been back training for 4/5 days now, so I will be available for selection on the weekend.'"

City have also beaten Manchester United and Liverpool to the signing of Anderlecht defender Mathias Bossaerts, 15.

— Daily Mail