City bid £6m for Partizan's Savic after admitting defeat in chase with Arsenal for Cahill

By Sportsmail Reporter
Updated: 18:05 EDT, 28 June 2011

Manchester City are closing in on their first summer signing after making a £6million bid for Partizan Belgrade defender Stefan Savic.

Roberto Mancini has identified the Montenegro international as his prime defensive target after abandoning plans to recruit Bolton's Gary Cahill, who is in line to join Arsenal.

But City will have to bide their time before landing Savic, as Partizan have warned they will not sell the 20-year-old until next month at the earliest as they intend to play him in their Champions League qualifier against FK Skendija.

City slicker: Stefan Savic is nearing a move to Manchester City from Partizan Belgrade

UEFA guidelines allow players to play in the Champions League group stages for their new club if their previous club has been eliminated in the qualifying rounds. But if Partizan were to progress to the group stages, the exemption would not apply and he would be ineligible for City’s group stage campaign.

The Serbians value Savic close to £9m.

City's hopes of luring Alexis Sanchez, however, are diminishing rapidly. The Chilean winger has insisted he will stay at Udinese if his 'dream' move to Barcelona fails to materialise.

Bolton are keen to talk to Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips if they can agree a fee.