Hughes: Bridge fee agreed

Manchester City have agreed an undisclosed fee with Chelsea for defender Wayne Bridge, City boss Mark Hughes has said.

Chelsea confirmed on Friday they had given the Eastlands club permission to speak to the England left-back over a possible move and Hughes revealed he was optimistic of concluding the deal in the next 24 hours.

He said: "My understanding is the clubs have agreed a fee."

He added: "We need to speak to the boy and try to agree personal terms.

"If we can do that hopefully Wayne will be a Manchester City player, that's the aim."

Hughes is reported to have a transfer kitty of around £60million at his disposal this month and Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admitted Bridge could head north if the price was right.

"If they have a good deal, it is no problem for me," said Scolari.

"But it is best you ask (chief executive) Peter Kenyon as he knows everything that is happening.

"If any club wants to buy a player from Chelsea, they have to offer big money because if they play for Chelsea they are very good players.

"When a club wants one player from Chelsea my advice is offer but don't offer less, offer big, because Chelsea is a very big club and has fantastic players."