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Micah Richards was locked in talks with Sunderland on Saturday night about a season-long loan from Manchester City.

City told the former England defender he could leave after he refused to sign a new contract that would have seen him take a significant drop on his £65,000-a-week wages.

The champions slapped an £8million asking price on Richards’ head – but there were no takers. Now Sunderland have moved in with an offer to take Richards, 26, to the Stadium of Light for the final year of his contract.

West Ham are also monitoring the situation but Sunderland will meet Richards’ wages – and City are hoping that the deal will also include a clause that would see the Black Cats pay around £4m if they make the move permanent next summer.

City struck a similar arrangement with Everton for Gareth Barry last season, allowing the midfielder to spend the final year of his contract at Goodison and then cashing with £2m for a permanent deal.

Fiorentina are also interested in Richards, but he wants to stay in the Premier League.