Olympique Marseille have been informed they must break the bank to sign Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor.
Marseille coach Didier Deschamps is keen on the ex-Arsenal star.
But the Mirror says they must meet City's £14million asking price for Adebayor and the Blues are determined to recoup most of the £25million they paid to Arsenal two years ago.
Marseille will also have to fork out to satisfy Adebayor's wage demands and the Togo star has three years left on his £140,000-a-week deal at City.
The Blues hierarchy are adamant they will not subsidise the wages of any departing player as they attempt to rein in the massive spending of the last three years.