Richard Dunne could leave Manchester City after
contract talks stalled.
Sven Goran Eriksson was confident his skipper and defensive
stalwart would commit his future to the club when negotiations
began last month.
But Dunne is unhappy with City's offer and talks between his
advisers and the club have broken down.
The Republic of Ireland international has clocked up nearly 300
appearances in seven years with City and is determined not to sell
himself short in the negotiations over his future.
Team-mate Micah Richards is demanding £70,000 a week to stay at
City and Dunne wants a deal which reflects his huge worth to the
club.
The Dublin-born centre-half is 28 and knows this next contract will
take him through his peak years and could be his last big
pay-day.
He has less than 18 months left on the £28,000-a-week deal he
agreed in 2006 and the breakdown in talks will alert a number of
Premier League clubs.
Newcastle United considered moving for him in the summer and one of
the priorities for their new manager will be to sign a
centre-half.
Eriksson will be desperate to hang on to Dunne and recently praised
the former Everton star for acting as "big brother" for his younger
players.
Dunne has transformed himself over the last few years from the
tear-away who first joined City into their Player of the Year for
the past three seasons.
He has become a huge favourite with the fans and they would be up
in arms if the club could not hang on to a player in the form of
his career.
