Petrov bidding war
Petrov was one of three City players to be told they will not be offered a new contract this summer, along with striker Benjani and defender Sylvinho.
But the Bulgarian already appears to be a wanted man after a whole list of clubs were immediately linked to him upon his release.
Cash-strapped West Ham are already thought to have been in touch with Petrov’s agent, while Villa manager Martin O’Neill is also set to join the race for his signature.
Stoke City, Everton, Blackburn, and Bolton are also said to be interested.
Predictably, talk of Harry Redknapp putting in a contract offer has also surfaced due to the Spurs manage’s well-known eye for a bargain.
Petrov – who cost City £4.7million – is thought to favour staying in England.
He enjoyed an excellent first season after being signed from Atletico Madrid by former City manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2007, although has since failed to recapture his early form because of injuries and a lack of first-team football under Eriksson’s successors Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini.
The Boleyn Inheritance 