Fergie plotting swoop for unhappy City star

Sir Alex Ferguson is lining up a sensational raid on Manchester City for unsettled midfielder Stephen Ireland.

Ferguson was furious that Manchester United were beaten to the signature of £29million David Silva last week.

But he intends to ease his frustration by launching a bid for Ireland that will test City’s resolve not to sell to their bitter rivals.

Fergie saw Silva as an ideal successor to Paul Scholes and was planning to use the Spaniard as a creative central midfielder.

But United were blown away by the transfer fee City handed to Valencia and the £150,000-a-week wages that dwarfs anything currently on offer at Old Trafford.

It has forced the United boss to move his sights across town to City’s 2009 Player of the Year.

Sunday Mirror Sport revealed last month that Ireland had asked for a transfer after a disappointing campaign under Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini.

United have been monitoring the Irishman’s rise through the ranks at Eastlands, but 12 months ago it was unthinkable that the 23-year-old midfielder who City fans call Superman would be allowed to leave the club.

City are ready to allow Ireland to leave now they have recruited Silva, who is also being earmarked for a central role by Mancini despite playing mostly as a winger for Valencia and Spain.

But the Blues will be loath to sell Ireland to their rivals – unless United pay a premium on a player they would value at about £12m if he was moving to any other club.

Liverpool and Everton would both be interested but are even more strapped for transfer cash than United.

Ireland, who like former Old Trafford captain Roy Keane hails from the Cork town of Cobh, comes from a family of United fans.

He is aware of United’s long-term interest and feels he needs to move to kick-start his career after Mancini said he had problems with Ireland’s attitude.

City have spent close to £70m bringing in Silva, Jerome Boateng and Yaya Toure. The spree will continue this week with the expected £25m arrival of James Milner.

Mancini also wants a striker and two new full-backs. Reports in Germany claim that Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko has told Wolfsburg to accept City’s offer of £28m.

City’s list of potential defensive recruits includes Barcelona’s Brazilian Dani Alves, Ajax’s Dutch international Gregory van der Weil and ­Aleksandar Kolarov of Lazio.