Manchester City are set to blink in their talks with AC Milan over the departure of Carlos Tevez.

The Daily Star says Roberto Mancini originally said he was opposed to anything apart from the sale of the Argentinian.

But the City boss is so desperate to get Tevez off the club's books that he could be prepared to compromise.

There was a high level meeting between the clubs before Christmas.

Believed to be present were Milan's Sporting Director Ariedo Braida and fellow director Lorenzo Cantamessa, as well as agent Giuseppe Riso, Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian and City's Brian Marwood.

City want Milan to pay a £3m loan deal, pick up the striker's total £200,000-a-week salary and seal a cut-price £20m deal.