The England full-back travelled to Manchester on Friday
night to undergo a medical and discuss the personal terms of a
three-year contract believed to be worth around £80,000 a
week.
Bridge, 28, who emerged in the professional game at Southampton
when Hughes was coming to the end of his playing career, has been
reluctant to leave Stamford Bridge despite failing to hold down a
regular place in the team. Since joining Chelsea in 2003 for £7
million, the defender has been restricted to just 74 League
appearances.
It has not helped his cause having to compete against
international colleague Ashley Cole for the same position at club
level, a problem he will not have to face at Eastlands. The capture
of Bridge will be seen as the first significant move by Hughes
towards him strengthening his squad, although he has denied reports
that he has also tabled bids for Shay Given, the Newcastle United
goalkeeper, and Blackburn Rovers forward Roque Santa Cruz.
Other players believed to be on his shopping list include Craig
Bellamy, of West Ham, and Everton's Joleon Lescott.
In the meantime, Hughes admits securing Bridge will be a major
boost and he is convinced that the player can quickly rediscover
his best form on a more consistent basis, not to mention regain his
place in the England squad under Fabio Capello.
Hughes said: "We need to speak to Wayne and come to a deal over
his personal terms, but hopefully he will be a Manchester City
player very soon.
"He's still a successful player. He's an England international
at one of the top four clubs in the country. I played alongside him
at Southampton and know first hand what an outstanding player he
is.
"He's had a relative success, but you come to a point in your
career where you want to be playing week in and week out. "You need
to demand that from yourself and at the highest level. If that's
not the case then maybe your focus can tend to drift a bit. It's a
credit to him that he's not allowed this to happen at Chelsea.
"He wants to get back into the England squad and Fabio Capello
has said that he needs people playing week in and week out for them
to be under consideration."
Hughes' side face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday
and he has made it clear to his under-achieving players that he
will accept nothing less than a victory.
Hughes, who will be without Stephen Ireland, who has a hamstring
injury, added: "It's the most prestigious domestic competition in
the world and should be given the respect it deserves. We don't
want to be making the headlines for all the wrong reasons."
