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Blues boost as Reds ruled out of Maicon running
Manchester City, 10:02, June 26, 2009 ,
Manchester City are at the front of the queue to sign Maicon and will use Elano as bait if Inter Milan decide to sell the Brazilian.
Chelsea are also interested in the 27-year-old and held talks with Inter's sporting director Marco Branca last week, but they are not in a position to conclude a deal until Jose Bosingwa's move to Bayern Munich goes through and that could let City in to pinch Maicon.
Mark Hughes may hold an ace up his sleeve with Elano, who is wanted by Inter coach Jose Mourinho, plus the fact that City are not in the Champions League and will not face the Italian club next season also works in his favour.
"The man who will decide is Inter president Massimo Moratti," said Maicon's agent, Antonio Caliendo.
"Moratti says there is a 50 percent chance of Maicon staying but modern football is not like it used to be.
"Things can change rapidly, everything can be bought and sold, books need to be balanced and so on.
"Maicon is the best right-back in the world. I would rule out that Manchester United are looking for him but I know that City made an approach."