Manchester City boss Mark Hughes may be forced to shop abroad with asking prices for his Premiership targets continuing to climb.
The Mail on Sunday says Hughes and the club's billionaire backers from Abu Dhabi have reached the end of their tether after being stunned to learn it will cost them more than £15million each to sign defenders Joleon Lescott of Everton and West Ham's Matthew Upson.
A source said: "Part of the problem is that so many clubs are involved in the relegation issue, they would rather hold on to their players to keep them in the Premier League then sell in the summer if they have to."