• Premier League

Tevez linked with Monaco move

ESPN staff
May 14, 2013
Carlos Tevez joined Manchester City in July 2009 © Getty Images
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Monaco have been given the green light from Carlos Tevez to approach Manchester City with an offer for the Argentina striker, L'Equipe reported on Tuesday.

The sports daily claimed Tevez, 29, and the newly-promoted Ligue 2 side have held secret talks in recent days with the aim of bringing the City striker to the principality ahead of their assault on the top flight.

The report added an annual net salary of €10 million helped convince Tevez, who reportedly rejected overtures from Paris Saint-Germain in December 2011.

Tevez is the latest in an impressive list of players linked to Monaco, whom reportedly have approached Radamel Falcao, 27, and are prepared to pay his current club, Atletico Madrid, €60 million for the Colombia striker.

However Monaco owner and president, Russian billionaire Dmitri Rybolovlev, is reportedly unwilling to dip into his vast personal resources until uncertainty over his club's administrative position is resolved.

The French Football League's (LFP) Administrative Council ruled in March all clubs participating in its competitions would have to be based in France for tax purposes come the end of the 2013-14 campaign or potentially face expulsion.

Monaco claim the move is specifically aimed at them as it would nullify their current fiscal advantages, which mean foreign players pay no income tax, while both foreigners and French squad members cost the club much less to employ than their France-based counterparts.

Monaco appealed to the French Football Federation (FFF), but initial talks to resolve the situation faltered with the club and the FFF claiming the other party said a compensation package of €200 million would maintain the status quo. A further round of conciliatory discussions are scheduled for May 22.

The situation has provoked a mixed response from Ligue 1 presidents with some threatening to boycott Monaco games next season if the new regulations are not enforced. Marseille president Vincent Labrune told RMC a solution needed to be found.

"In sporting terms, it's a good thing to see Monaco promoted, because they're a good team," Labrune said. "But personally, there is problem in terms of fairness. I just want the rules to be the same for everyone.

"I'm not in favour of financial compensation, but there are the rules of sport. They can come back into Ligue 1, no problem, but they have to make an effort."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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