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Manchester City are making a late and strong bid to sign Derby County wonder boy Will Hughes – and throw him into the title race, writes the Sunday People..

City chief Roberto Mancini wants to add to his squad and his No.2 David Platt has launched a raid on the Rams for their 17-year-old midfield sensation.

Hughes is already wanted by Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham who are all sniffing around as Derby wait for a potential £10million bid.

But megabucks City have come in and asked Derby to name their price for Hughes and are keen to land him now.

City are watching the cash with Mancini under orders to balance the books, but they would pay around £7million with add-ons.

That would be good news for Derby’s bank balance, but the bad news is City see Hughes as a capture to play now rather than return him to Pride Park.

Derby’s perfect scenario was to get a deal whereby Hughes would be loaned back to them for the rest of the season.

But City’s needs – and Mancini’s future – will be decided in the next four months and that is why his mission has gone into overdrive.

Meanwhile, City have taken their first step towards ditching Mario Balotelli – by making a £45million bid for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani