Although Wright-Phillips' request has been put on hold until a fee is agreed, officials from both clubs are optimistic the issue will be sorted out this afternoon, leaving the England international free to negotiate terms.

While it was claimed Wright-Phillips' stance has drastically reduced his club's room for negotiation, City chief executive Alistair Mackintosh is working hard to ensure his club do not get any less than the £20m (€29.1m) deal rejected on Friday.

Manager Stuart Pearce did state last night that unless a deal was agreed he expected Wright-Phillips to be on the plane to Thailand later this evening as City embark on their FA Premier League Asia Trophy campaign.

However, without a dramatic and unexpected development, that will not happen, with the player instead linking up with Chelsea - who play Benfica in Lisbon tonight - on their tour of the United States.

In a separate deal, Mackintosh is also hoping to secure the services of former Manchester United striker Andy Cole before today's tea-time departure.

Cole is anxious to return to the north-west and although he had been linked with a move to Blackburn, City have stepped in and expect to conclude the first permanent signing of Pearce's reign as manager in time for the former England man to fly to Bangkok.

City officials are stressing that Cole's arrival should not be viewed as a replacement for Wright-Phillips, but more for Jon Macken, who left for Crystal Palace earlier in the summer.

With Robbie Fowler ruled out with a back injury, Cole is virtually certain to make his City debut against Bolton on Wednesday.

Once that deal is tied up, Pearce can then step up the search for further reinforcements with the cash he will receive from Wright-Phillips' transfer.

It has been thought Kevin Keegan's successor will be given half the money, with the rest going towards the club's £62m (€90.2m) debt.

Robbie Keane, Freddie Kanoute and Peter Crouch have all been linked with the Eastlands outfit, while a move for Palace's England forward Andy Johnson cannot be ruled out.

Pearce would probably prefer to have Wright-Phillips and no money, but the 23-year-old's departure was inevitable once he had made it clear he wanted to speak to Chelsea.

After arriving at Moss Rose yesterday, he quickly informed Pearce he was too ill to play and was given a lift home by one of the manager's backroom staff.

It was on that journey that Wright-Phillips telephoned chairman John Wardle to inform him of his wish for a deal with Chelsea to be concluded.

The call devastated Wardle, currently on his holidays, who has placed such faith in Wright-Phillips' ability and his loyalty, but once the brutal reality sunk in, the chairman left Mackintosh to strike a deal with Chelsea counterpart Peter Kenyon.