Milan hold Tevez talks to prepare £25m January bid

Carlos Tevez would strengthen Milan's attacking resources (AFP/Getty)

Carlos Tevez's representatives held preliminary talks with Milan in Italy yesterday which could bring a £25m deal for the Manchester City striker in the January transfer window.

The Argentine (right) may have to go to some lengths to demonstrate to the Italian side that he is in good enough physical condition to justify such an outlay. But i understands he and the club are ready to do whatever they can to overcome any such doubts, with sources in Italy suggesting last night that Milan's current predicament with strikers makes a move a viable option.

The Rossoneri's interest in discussing such a move has intensified now that Antonio Cassano is out for the season after undergoing a heart operation. Though 22-year-old Alexandre Pato has recovered from the thigh injury which has kept him out for almost two months, Milan are believed to have money to commit to reinforcing their strikeforce. Kia Joorabchian, Tevez's adviser, held discussions yesterday with the Milan vice-president, Adriano Galliani, and the sporting director, Ariedo Braida.

Though City declared when finding Tevez guilty of five contract breaches last month that they would not sell him for less than his "market value", and put that figure at around £40m, a £25m offer would be tempting, considering the state of dislocation between the club and their former captain.

As revealed last week in i, the most City could recoup in compensation, if they ripped up his contract and sued him, would be £17m.

The most substantial impediment to a move would be wages. The view from Italy is that Tevez's current salary – £198,000 a week – is too high for the Serie A club. But the Argentine may, again, be flexible enough to make such a move a possibility.