The Etihad's top brass are ready to send Wilfried Bony, Jesus Navas and Eliaquim Mangala to Goodison to get their hands on rising-star England defender
Manchester City are launching an ambitious bid to lure John Stones from Everton – using players worth £75million as bait.
As we revealed two weeks ago, the Mancunian Blues are now leading the race for the 21-year-old centre-back.
Everton are also likely to come under pressure to sell striker Romelu Lukaku, midfielder Ross Barkley and right-back Seamus Coleman.
So decision-makers at the Etihad have put together a proposal involving three of their current first-team squad — striker Wilfried Bony, winger Jesus Navas and centre-half Eliaquim Mangala — who cost Sheikh Mansour a collective £75m.
City hope, by helping Roberto Martinez fill significant holes in the Toffees' squad, that they will be able to do a deal for the young England defender.
* VALENCIA have stepped up their efforts to tie down rising star Fran Villalba on the back of interest from Manchester City, writes Tom Hopkinson in the Sunday People.
The 17-year-old, dubbed the Magician of Cabanyal, has already played in La Liga and the Copa Del Rey. His current contract runs until June 2018 with a release clause of around £3million.