Manchester City are ready to make Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic the Premiership's first £200,000-a-week player.

The Sunday Mirror says Sir Alex Ferguson has battled to keep the giant Serb defender after allegations last season that his family had become unsettled in England.

But City are reportedly ready to test the cash-strapped Glazer family's resolve with a £20m bid, plus personal terms to Vidic of £200,000-a-week.

At 28, Vidic has at least four seasons left at the top and is seen by City as a key signing with a winning mentality as they attempt to land their first trophy since 1976.

Ferguson, however, would be very reluctant to lose him given Rio Ferdinand's injury problems and new signing Chris Smalling's late-season struggles with Fulham, while Wes Brown and Jonny Evans' promising central defensive partnership remains a work in progress.