London, November 22:

Manchester City are preparing to make a world record £50 million bid to sign Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, The Times reported today. According to the paper City’s new Arab owners have targeted the Italian World Cup winner as their next major capture. If they pull it off the deal would surpass the world record £48 million Real Madrid paid Juventus for Zinedine Zidane in 2001.

According to The Times a delegation from Man City travelled to Turin this month to discuss a possible transfer although it is not thought they spoke to the player or club directly. City are suggested to be prepared to do what it takes to secure the 30-year-old’s services, including paying him £160,000 a week in wages — the same amount that has made Robinho the highest paid footballer in the Premier League.

Robinho joined City from Real Madrid on a British trasnfer record of £34.2m on September 1, the day the club was bought by the Abu Dhabi United Group. Manager Mark Hughes discussed Buffon when he held talks with Sheikh Mansour, the Group’s main financial backer last week. While The Times does not name sources it suggests City are hoping to lure Buffon to Manchester in the January transfer window or at the latest next summer.