Manchester City Prepare £80m Summer Spending on Strikers - Report

Premier League champions Manchester City have begun planning for the 2013/14 campaign, with an eye on reinforcements up front. Roberto Mancini's side boasts three top-class strikers in Bosnian international Edin Dzeko and the Argentine pair of Carlos Tevez and Sergio Agüero. They had four - but Italy international Mario Balotelli was transferred to Serie A side AC Milan in January.

However, with uncertainty surrounding Dzeko and Tevez's futures - the Bosnian remains a super-sub and Tevez's comments about wanting to return home to Argentina may signal the beginning of the end of his City career - reports indicate Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao are on their way to the blue half of Manchester.

Uruguay international Cavani is believed to be a long-time target for City, with City coach Angelo Gregucci previously having admitted the club's interest in the 26-year-old. And the Telegraph now reports that a £40m summer bid is being readied, as part of a revamp of the Etihad first team.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid's highly rated Colombian hitman was the most sought after player in the first part of the season, with a goal-scoring record that rivalled Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona's Lionel Messi. The 27-year-old has been injured briefly this season but continues to bang in the goals - 20 from 21 Spanish league games and 25 from 26 overall.

Falcao was strongly linked with a move to Chelsea at some point, particularly after earlier reports suggested City would withdraw from the race. However, the Mirror now reports that City's sporting director, Txiki Begiristain wants to sign the powerful forward and will spend up to £40m to get his man. The report also adds that the ex-Barcelona official has already opened negotiations with the Vicente Calderon outfit.

Should these reports be true, it means City will spend close to £100m in the summer and such an enormous amount of money, under impending Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules will be difficult to procure... unless fringe players are offloaded.

Who's Leaving?

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri, summer signing Javi Garcia and England defender Joleon Lescott are among those expected to leave the Etihad.

Of them, Nasri is perhaps the highest profile player - the French international signed from the Gunners amid much expectation but has failed to deliver. Garcia, a Real Madrid youngster, has been unimpressive this season and with ex-Everton youngster Jack Rodwell pushing for a place, City may decide to cash in on Garcia. Lescott, meanwhile, will likely return to Goodison Park, with the prospect of a player/cash deal for Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini an interesting one.

In addition, the contracts for left-back Wayne Bridge, striker Roque Santa Cruz and centre-back Kolo Toure all expire in the summer, meaning finances ought not to be a problem for Mancini.