Sven ready to splash £45m on Modric and Berbatov

Manchester City will send a high-powered deputation to Croatia today in an audacious £20million attempt to steal the hugely talented Luka Modric from under the noses of Chelsea.

The highly-rated Croat has said he wants to leave this winter and City's bid for the midfield architect of England's Euro 2008 downfall at Wembley is part of a £45m raid that could also foil Manchester United.

In addition to the 22-year-old Dinamo Zagreb midfielder, Sven Goran Eriksson has also identified Spurs' Dimitar Berbatov — a United target — as his No1 striker priority.

But he will switch his attention to Liverpool's Peter Crouch if Spurs turn down the chance to make a £15m profit on the player they bought from Bayer Leverkusen for £10m at the start of last season.

With City owner Thaksin Shinawatra confirming that Eriksson will have a fortune to spend in January — as revealed in The Mail on Sunday two weeks ago — signing two of Europe's top players would be just the start of the Thai billionaire's campaign to make City the continent's top club.

And he is ready and able to slug it out with rival billionaire Roman Abramovich in a big-money head-to-head over Modric and any other top player who can be lured with hard cash.

City have been forced to act quickly after discovering that talks had taken place in London between Chelsea's Russian owner Abramovich and Dinamo Zagreb vicepresident Zdravko Marnik three weeks ago.

Modric is one of at least three major signings who Stamford Bridge coach Avram Grant has identified could put Abramovich's team back on top of the pile.

The Euro 2008 victory over England was Modric's 22nd international appearance and he earned rave reports for his vision, ball control and passing ability.

City have not been deterred by Spurs' apparent refusal to discuss the possibility of selling Berbatov. They are heartened by the Bulgarian's reticence when it comes to discussing his future at White Hart Lane and inside knowledge that the club could be willing to do business at the right price.

That would spark a reaction from United, whose manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, has a long-standing regard for a player he has inquired about more than once.