Manchester City are ready to launch a £25 million bid for Olympique Lyon star Karim Benzema. The People says Mark Hughes has made the hitman his number one target with the City money men ready to splash the cash again in January.

Benzema, 20, will be offered a mega four-year deal worth £100,000-a-week to join the Blues' revolution in a few months time.

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson will hate to see Benzema at his city rivals, but since the signing of Dimitar Berbatov he no longer needs another front-man or has the cash available.