Gianluigi Buffon would 'make deal happen' if Manchester City offer £60 million

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has fuelled speculation that he will be leaving Serie A side Juventus in January to join Manchester City in a world transfer record £60 million move by saying if the figures were true he would “make the deal happen.”

Injury to first-choice goalkeeper Joe Hart, coupled with the England squad member’s youth and relative inexperience, has prompted Mark Hughes to explore the possibility of drafting an established international name in to the squad.

Backed by almost limitless resources from the club’s Abu Dhabi-based owners, Hughes is ready to make wholesale changes to a squad that currently lie closer to the relegation places than the top four.

Reports in this morning’s papers suggest City are lining up a deal that would see the Italian World Cup winner handed a £240,000-a-week contract, making him easily the best paid player in the Premier League.

And the veteran goalkeeper gave City encouragement when he said that Juventus would be foolish to turn down an offer of that magnitude.

“If a club is willing to pay that much for you, it would be fair to say I will tell my agents to make the deal happen,” said Buffon.

“Juve can go and buy a team full of champions of their own."

City have conceded at least two goals in seven of their last eight matches and defensive reinforcements are a priority to Hughes.

The manager is also likely to offer Kolo Toure a route out of the Emirates Stadium with a similarly generous offer.

However, Juventus manager Claudio Ranieri, whose side face champions Inter Milan this weekend, looking to draw level with Jose Mourinho’s side on points after a recent run of good form, made light of the reports.

He said: “Manchester City’s offer for Buffon? Well, if we wait a bit maybe the number of millions will reach 100. At the end of the season we might even reach 150!

“No, joking apart, Gigi remains with us. He will not go anywhere.”

Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc also poured cold water on the story, saying: “Gigi is not for sale, he does not have a price and also there are no negotiations.

“There has never been any contact between us and Manchester City, nor any offer from them for Buffon.

“There’s nothing true about this.”