Raheem Sterling is making headlines again, but this time it’s for his footballing abilities.
Both The Mirror and The Mail claim the 20-year-old Liverpool star is top of Man City’s summer wishlist, as they look to gut their house and kit it out with some new furniture.
The Mirror say that City will stump up around £30 million, and get rid of Samir Nasri, Yaya Toure, Bacary Sagna, Jesus Navas, Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic to fund a summer spending spree.
The Mail on the other hand say that City will have to fork out considerably more to land the Liverpool contract rebel, with as much as £50m being quoted.
The Mirror say that Manchester United will use Javier Hernandez as bait to lure right-back Nathaniel Clyne to Old Trafford.
United have been long-term admirers of the England international, who is valued at over £20m.
The 24-year-old has turned down a new contract with the Saints, and has declared his desire to play in the Champions League, with United now poised to swoop.
And with Southampton previously expressing their interest in Hernandez, he looks set to be gift wrapped and sent to St Mary’s, after revealing he has no future with United.
Another player who looks like being a target for United is disheartened Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, who is available on a free transfer in the summer.
The German World Cup winner has found himself way down the pecking order in Madrid after they signed his international teammate Toni Kroos last summer, and will be a big target for several Premier League sides, but the Sun say Old Trafford looks to be his most realistic destination.
Meanwhile the Sun report on another player available for free this summer – James Milner.
The City midfielder’s deal is to run out at the end of the season, and he’s stalled on signing a new contract, looking for reassurances about his place in the side.
Liverpool and Arsenal have been long term admirers of his, but it looks like the Gunners have won the race for his signature.
Milner has been regarded as one of City’s unsung stars in recent years, but it looks like his days in Manchester could be numbered.
Aston Villa’s on-loan midfielder Tom Cleverly could make his deal permanent this summer, according to The Telegraph.
They say that new Villa boss Tim Sherwood has been impressed with the 25-year-old, and is hoping to stave off competition from Everton to make the deal permanent.
Cleverly has been deemed surplus-to-requirements at Old Trafford with his contract expiring in the summer, and Villa are prepared to offer the midfielder around £40,000 to make his deal permanent.
And finally, Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero has offered Mario Balotelli a route out of Liverpool, according to newspaper La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
Balotelli’s first season has been a resounding flop after his £16m move in the summer, and Ferrero says he would reignite his career if he came to Genoa.
“I would take him — he’d be the real Balotelli again here,” he said. “He wouldn’t have too much pressure here in Genoa.”
