Juventus have offered Manchester City the chance to sign defender Leonardo Bonucci this summer, according to a report.
The Italy international is thought to be a target for both the Citizens and Premier League rivals Chelsea, although no approach has yet been made by either side.
Manchester Evening News reports that Italian giants Juve have now made the step to take matters into their own hands in order to push through a world-record fee for a defender.
City are said to be unwilling to go any higher than £38m for a player boss Pep Guardiola has described as being one of his "favourite ever", but the Old Lady value the 29-year-old in excess of £50m.
The same report suggests that a third party contacted City, with Guardiola only likely to bow to the Serie A champions' demands in making a big-money offer should a similar move for Everton's John Stones break down.
Talks over a mammoth deal for the Englishman are understood to have begun earlier this week, which would make him the most expensive defender in history ahead of Paris Saint Germain's David Luiz.
Daniel Lewis
