Thursday 12th June, 2014
Wealthy Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco are preparing to fire the first shot in the battle to sign Mario Mandzukic from Bayern Munich this summer.
Mandzukic has signalled his intent to quit the Bavarians after falling out of favour under coach Pep Guardiola and being effectively replaced by Robert Lewandowski, who is joining Bayern Munich from Borussia Dortmund when his contract expires at the end of this month.
Despite Mandzukic hitting 18 goals in the Bundesliga as Bayern Munich won the title in record-quick fashion, Guardiola still left the Croatian out of the squad to contest, and ultimately win, the German Cup final.
Mandzukic is not short of suitors, with Arsenal, AC Milan, Juventus, Manchester United and Valencia all having been linked with making a bid.
But according to Italian broadcaster Sport Mediaset, it is Monaco who will strike first.
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The Ligue 1 runners-up, who are preparing for Champions League football next season, are preparing to offer Bayern Munich €26m for Mandzukic.
Should the Bavarians accept the bid, it would represent a doubling of the €13m spent to sign Mandzukic from Woilfsburg in 2012.
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