Monaco lining up £9million Adebayor

Manchester City misfit Emmanuel Adebayor has been cleared to talk to his old club Monaco about a cut-price £9million transfer.

Adebayor has no part to play now in Roberto Mancini’s plans, and the 26-year-old striker could be sold to the French outfit before the weekend – with City ready to take a massive hit on the £25m fee they paid Arsenal for him in July 2009.

Monaco are willing to take on Adebayor’s king-sized salary - as they will be helped by the fact that the principality has a tax-free status.

That means the Togo international could pocket around £100,000 a week and not lose out.

Adebayor is seeking a pay-off from City to go, but the mega-rich club are ­optimistic of shifting him out.

He is becoming an expensive luxury item in reserve.

City still have Adebayor under contract until the summer of 2014. If he lasted the distance, it would cost City around £20m in wages – so they will just put him down as an expensive mistake.

Monaco are clear ­favourites in the chase, as they are the only club willing to both accommodate Adebayor’s wages and pay a fee him.

City have searched for takers at home and abroad without success.

There is Premier League interest in taking the player on loan, but that is only a temporary solution to City’s problems with their unwanted forward.

Adebayor had four years with Monaco as a ­youngster before being brought to England by Arsene Wenger in January 2006. He still has friends in the south of France and is open to the idea of a full-time return to the area.

Meanwhile, teenage sensation Romelu Lukaku remains an Anderlecht player after premature claims he had already signed for City.

Reports in Belgium’s ­Sport/Foot said the 17-year-old striker agreed a deal to move to Eastlands in July for around £17m.

The magazine stated: “Lukaku has already reached an agreement with City for a transfer in July.”

But it has now emerged the race for Lukaku is still very much open.

Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal and AC Milan are all keen.