LONDON: Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge is set to join Manchester City after boss Mark Hughes confirmed on Friday the two clubs had agreed on an undisclosed fee for the England international.

Bridge only recently extended his Chelsea contract until 2012, but he has struggled to hold down a first-team spot at Stamford Bridge when Ashley Cole is fit, and the Blues are willing to let the left back leave.

Hughes has been given a substantial war chest by City's Abu Dhabi-based owners and hopes to tie up Bridge in what promises to be the first of several big-money signings arriving at Eastlands in January.

"My understanding is the clubs have agreed a fee," he said. "We need to speak to the boy and try to agree personal terms. If we can do that hopefully Wayne will be a Manchester City player.

"Wayne will probably travel to Manchester and hopefully negotiations will go well and he can have a medical tomorrow [Saturday]."

Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari has to sell before he can buy in the window and he admitted he would have no problem in letting Bridge move on for a reported fee of about £12 million ($24.92 million).

"If they have a good deal, it is no problem for me," Scolari said. "If any club wants to buy a player from Chelsea, they have to offer big money because if they play for Chelsea they are very good players."

Meanwhile, Newcastle United goalkeeper Shay Given is ready to quit the struggling club, according to his lawyer.

Given has grown unhappy with Newcastle's on- and off-field problems and, though Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear insisted Given would not be allowed to leave, Given's lawyer, Michael Kennedy, said the 32-year-old was considering moves to potential suitors Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City.