It is FA Cup weekend but the Sunday papers are more concerned about who City might be targeting as summer transfers.
The People is all hot and bothered about the Blues courting a Spanish star.
‘City are preparing a second successive summer raid on Valencia, with midfielder Juan Mata in their sights,’ they say.
‘The Blues captured David Silva last June and may take advantage of the La Liga club’s financial problems to move for Mata.
‘The 22-year-old is their biggest asset and, while he has a release clause of about £45million, sources close to the club say they will listen to offers around the £30m mark.
‘Tottenham and Chelsea have also had good reports from their scouts, and Silva has recommended Mata to Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini.’
In the Mail on Sunday, meanwhile, it is another midfielder who is in the spotlight.
‘Manchester City will slug it out with rivals Manchester United to sign Everton star Jack Rodwell,’ says the paper.
‘Ferguson wants to buy the 19-year-old this summer as a replacement for Paul Scholes but Mancini is also an admirer of the England under 21 international and enquired last summer.’
Back in the People Dean Jones is in hyperbole mode in an interview with Micah Richards. He claims Mancini is ‘fighting for his future’ and that we are ‘desperately trying to cling’ on to place in the Premier League’s top four.
Once past that sensationalism there is however good chat with Micah who tells of his recent talks with the boss.
‘I initiated the contact with Mancini. I’d had a back injury and then I was on the bench for three games. I wasn’t happy because I was fit, so I went to see him,’ the player tells the scribe.
‘Mancini makes it easy for you to speak to him. The chat only lasted about 15 minutes but I’m pleased with how it went.
‘Getting a place in the side is tough but Mancini told me that if I concentrated more I could be a top defender and even a world-class defender.’
Finally, Aidan Magee has been busy in the News of the World with two City stories. Firstly he says that Nigel De Jong, 'arguably the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League,' wants to finish his career at the club and will open talks on a new contract this summer
And he follows up with a piece claiming that the progress of Tottenham and Chelsea in the Champions League ‘could impact on Manchester City's qualification
Manchester City face fight to keep hold of homesick Silva as Atletico Madrid prepare summer move
Atletico Madrid are planning a shock summer move for Manchester City’s homesick winger David Silva.
After taking a few weeks to adapt to life in the Premier League, Silva has been one of City’s best players this season but is struggling with life in England, particularly the weather.
Silva comes from Gran Canaria — where the average winter temperature is 23 degrees Celsius — and wanted to stay in Spain when he left Valencia in the summer but City were the only club prepared to pay the £24million asking price.
Silva’s struggle to adapt to life in Manchester has alerted Atletico, who wanted to sign him last season and they have already held talks with his agent Julio Llorente.
Atletico are aware that even if City could be persuaded to sell one of the best assets they would want to at least recuperate the money they paid for the 25-year-old but they are willing to negotiate and offer players in part exchange.
City will be hoping Silva changes his mind about life in England, especially following last weekend’s super display in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford, in which he scored City’s goal in a 2-1 defeat.
City fear summer raid for Tevez
MANCHESTER CITY are facing another battle to keep Carlos Tevez.
Barcelona and Inter Milan have already made their interest known and Eastlands chiefs are convinced their skipper will look for a move in the summer.
Tevez's advisors wanted to re-negotiate his City deal, but the club refused.
The Argentine star, 27, is already the country's best-paid player on £257,000 a week and is only in the second year of a five-year contract.
City hope to thrash out a compromise with an image-rights deal which could net the striker a further £40,000 a week.
But they fear even this may not be enough to appease his advisors.
City talked Tevez out of quitting when he handed in a transfer request earlier this season. And the striker insisted his differences with the club are now behind him.
But Tevez has always listened to his closest advisor Kia Joorabchian over financial and football matters.
If he does so again in the summer, City believe they will be facing another major battle.
Blackburn Rovers To Miss Out On Permanent Deal For Roque Santa Cruz After Failing To Agree Fee With Manchester City Blackburn Rovers have been unable to agree a deal to secure the services of Roque Santa Cruz from Manchester City on a permanent basis, according to the Daily Mirror.
Santa Cruz, is currently enjoying his second spell at Ewood Park having rejoined the club he left in 2009 after struggling to break into the starting line-up at Eastlands.
However a full-time deal is looking unlikely as Rovers boss Steve Kean is not willing to meet City’s valuation of the Paraguayan striker.
Meanwhile Blackburn have also been trying to sign fellow January loan singing Jermaine Jones from Schalke, and manager Steve Keane admitted both deals were looking doomed, admitting: “We tried to fix a price for both but couldn’t.”
Santa Cruz found the net 19 times in 37 appearances in his debut season at Ewood Park but is yet to find the net in two appearances since returning to the club.
Indeed his recent lack of goals and playing times have seen him slump in the current Castrol Rankings to the lowly position of 1795.
Manchester City enter the race for Rodwell as Moyes feels the squeeze
Manchester City will slug it out with rivals Manchester United in a battle to sign Everton star Jack Rodwell.
Sir Alex Ferguson's 'noisy neighbours' have the financial power to put his proposed £15million offer in the shade.
Ferguson wants to buy the 19-year-old this summer as a replacement for Paul Scholes.
In demand: Jack Rodwell in action for Everton
But City's Roberto Mancini is also an admirer of England Under-21 midfielder Rodwell, and enquired last summer.
Financial pressures could force Everton manager David Moyes to sell, despite having extended his prize asset's contract until 2015.
Manchester City to return to Valencia with a summer bid for Juan Mata
MANCHESTER CITY are preparing a second successive summer raid on Valencia, with midfielder Juan Mata in their sights.
The Blues captured David Silva last June and may take advantage of the La Liga club’s financial problems to move for Mata.
The 22-year-old is their biggest asset and, while he has a release clause of about £45million, sources close to the club say they will listen to offers around the £30m mark.
Tottenham and Chelsea have also had good reports from their scouts, and Silva has recommended Mata to Eastlands boss Roberto Mancini. Chelsea want to increase their midfield options and the Spain international would provide ideal back-up for Frank Lampard & Co next season.
Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong has decided he wants to spend the rest of his career at the Premier League club and will open talks on a new contract in the summer. News of the World
Former Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, on loan at Real Madrid from Manchester City, claims that Gunner skipper Cesc Fabregas would be a good fit in the Spanish capital.
Sunday Express
WAG OF THE DAY
OTHER BOLLOX
Manchester United want to sign Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric for £35m in the summer as a replacement for Paul Scholes, and Sir Alex Ferguson is also keen on Everton's Jack Rodwell and Sunderland's Jordan Henderson.
News of the World
Manchester United also want to bring in Marseille's Mathieu Valbuena, although the 26-year-old will cost in the region of £12m. The People
United striker Michael Owen is set to quit Old Trafford in the summer - and is wanted by Everton and Sunderland. The People
Chelsea are lining up a £30m bid for Brazilian teenager Neymar in the summer having already failed with a £22m bid for Santos six months ago. Sunday Express
Italian side Inter Milan are considering a £42m double swoop in the summer for Arsenal duo Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin as they bid to revive their fortunes. News of the World
The Serie A outfit is also considering a £10m summer move for Tottenham's Brazilian midfielder Sandro, who was in sensational form against Inter's city rivals AC Milan in the Champions League.Sunday Express
Juventus will only pay Liverpool £5m to sign on-loan Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilani on a permanent deal, representing a potential £17m loss for the Reds. Sunday Mirror
Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal are all keeping a close eye on the form of Ipswich's £12m-rated teenager Connor Wickham with a view to making a summer move for the 17-year-old. The Mail on Sunday
Newcastle want £10m-rated West Ham striker Carlton Cole to fill the gap left by the departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool in the January transfer window. Sunday Mirror
Aston and Spanish side Villarreal are battling to sign talented Swiss youngster Xherdan Shaqiri, who is currently at Basle. Inside Futbol
Carlo Ancelotti is facing a bleak future as Chelsea manager after his team lost to Everton in the FA Cup on Saturday.The Mail on Sunday
Fulham boss and former Chelsea striker Mark Hughes is in contention to replace Ancelotti if he does leave the Blues at the end of the season. News of the World
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf believes striker Didier Drogba may have to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season to revive his career. Talksport
Liverpool are ready to hand keeper Pepe Reina a £10,000-a-week pay rise to keep him out of the clutches of rivals Manchester United. The People
Tottenham will target Everton boss David Moyes if they are forced to part company with manager Harry Redknapp in the summer. Redknapp goes on trial in July on charges of tax evasion dating from his time in charge of Portsmouth. Sunday Mirror
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reckons that the Championship and League One are producing a steady stream of young talent and his club is monitoring the lower leagues in pursuit of new signings. Sunday Mirror
Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt believes the team's recent success is down to his new role as dressing room DJ with music from the likes of Kings of Leon, Amy Winehouse and The Killers inspiring the team. Sunday Mirror
