Exclusive: Manchester City bid to buy Pompey's Lassana Diarra

Manchester City are lining up a £10million January bid for Portsmouth's Lassana Diarra and are set to foil Harry Redknapp's attempts to re-sign the ace.

Highly-rated French midfielder Diarra, 23, was expected to link up again with former Pompey boss Redknapp at Spurs in the New Year.

The ex-Chelsea ace has been a revelation on the South Coast since swapping Arsenal for Fratton Park in January for £5.5m.

But Pompey need to cut costs and Diarra is keen to quit after being unsettled by Redknapp's move to White Hart Lane.

Tottenham were hot favourites until City, bankrolled by the Abu Dhabi royal family, dangled a huge £85,000-a-week offer towards Diarra's representatives.

Man City manager Mark Hughes is optimistic of landing him after pulling off the audacious signing of Brazilian superstar Robinho on £160,000-a-week.

Click here for Mirror.co.uk's Lassan Diarra factfile

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