Chelsea must better Manchester City's wage offer to beat them for departing Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez.

The Daily Mail says Tevez will join Manchester City on a five-year deal next week unless Chelsea match the £130,000-a-week salary on offer at Eastlands.

Tevez quit Manchester United on Saturday after two years at the club and the Argentinian is expected to sign for Mark Hughes' ambitious side when he returns from a holiday in south America.

City and Chelsea have agreed to pay the £25.5m to secure the striker's services, but Hughes has inched ahead after offering Tevez a guaranteed starting place in the team.

Although new Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti contacted Tevez last week in an attempt to persuade him that his future is at Stamford Bridge, the player is convinced that City will soon be English football's dominant force.