Manchester City could splash out a staggering £45 million in the next 48 hours. The Daily Mail says delegates from their Abu Dhabi owners gave the OK for the club to up their bids for Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz, Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given and Arsenal defender Kolo Toure.

City were going back to Blackburn last night to offer around £20million for Cruz. Bids for him have been rebuffed so far.

They will also resume talks with Arsenal today in an attempt to lever centre half Toure away from the Emirates in a £15m deal before finalising terms with Newcastle over goalkeeper Shay Given.

Given opened talks with City yesterday.