Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder must decide between offers from Manchester United and Manchester City. The Sunday Mirror says Sneijder, 26, made a flying visit to England last week and then traveled on to Los Angeles to discuss his future with his model wife Yolanthe, who is on an assignment in California.
Sneijder has told both clubs that they will have to smash through the £200,000-a-week wage barrier to land him.
That will not worry the cash-rich Blues - even though they are looking to rein in expenditure as they look to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play Regulations.
And United proved when they broke their wage structure last season to hand Wayne Rooney a new contract worth £250,000-a-week that they will dig deep for the right player.
United believe they are favourites to win the battle for the exciting Holland international who would be a direct on-field replacement for Paul Scholes, who retired last week.
Soren Lerby, Sneijder's agent, met Sir Alex Ferguson at United's team hotel in London in April before the Reds played West Ham. Ferguson has also turned his attentions to Tottenham's Luca Modric after being made aware that City are ready to splash the cash for Sneijder.
City chief executive Garry Cook and football administration officer Brian Marwood are both currently in America.
