I still want Terry, says relentless Hughes

The Premier League yesterday confirmed they had received no official complaint from Chelsea over Manchester City's pursuit of John Terry, as Mark Hughes continued his public courtship of the England captain.

With Emmanuel Adebayor signing for £25m on Saturday, to join a summer influx of talent to Eastlands, City manager Hughes must now focus on his defence. Terry, the Chelsea captain, has been identified as his number one target and an offer of around £30m was recently turned down.

"It's well documented that we put in a bid and that was rejected," said Hughes. "He's a player I know, I played alongside him at Chelsea and I admire him as a person and captain from afar. He's obviously the type and calibre of player we need to compete at the top level." Hughes' latest public outpouring of admiration for Terry is unlikely to go down well at Stamford Bridge, with reports yesterday suggesting the Londoners were ready to lodge an official complaint with the Premier League for alleged "tapping up".

Hughes – who also confirmed his interest in the Everton centre-back Joleon Lescott – claimed City would back off if Chelsea continue to rebuff their approaches. "If we come to a point where we feel there's no chance of a transfer progressing then we move away from that," he said. "But I don't think we're at that point as yet."