Man City still in hunt for Gago as Real Madrid line up £13m replacement

Manchester City have been offered renewed hope of signing Fernando Gago after it emerged that Real Madrid had lined up a replacement for the unhappy Argentina midfielder.Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini has made no secret of his desire to land the 23-year-old, but was told it would take a stellar offer to tempt his Spanish employers.Gago fears for his Argentina place in the run-up to the World Cup after struggling to get a game and is keen to move. Caught in the middle: Fernando Gago wants out of Real MadridBut Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini has an injury-hit squad and does not want to see any more players leave.Juggling the desires of an unhappy player and an under-pressure coach, Real director general Jorge Valdano has lined up a £13million move for Sao Paulo's 24-year-old Brazil midfielder Hernanes.The still want more than £15m for Gago, though they know that Citycould easily up their latest reported offer this week of £13m. Highly rated: Sao Paulo's marauding midfielder Hernanes is on Real's radar  Both City and Boca Juniors would also have been keen on a loan deal, but that seems out of the question and his agents fear that time is running out.With one of the player's two agents, Marcelo Lombilla, set for another meeting with Valdano, the other representative, Zoran Vekic, said: 'Lombilla is in Madrid and has met twice with Valdano but I do not believe that he will leave'There is still a meeting pending, but I doubt that Madrid will let him join Manchester City because it is not a question of money.' Robinho earnings slashed to £50,000 a week as he closes in on City escapeMan City launch Johnson swoop in bid to beat Chelsea for Middlesbrough ace MARTIN SAMUEL: Three-goal Tevez left in a daze by home truth Eastlands wasteland: The wit and wisdom of Manchester City chief executive Garry Cook MANCHESTER CITY FC

Source: Daily_Mail