City close in on Eto’o

Manchester City's pursuit of Samuel Eto'o of Barcelona took a big step forward after it emerged that the Spanish club had bid £38.5m for a replacement striker - David Villa of Valencia.

Barcelona would have to sell in order to fund the move for Villa says the Times and will make room for him by offloading Eto'o. Inter Milan are also interested in the Cameroonian hitman, but City will easily outbid them. They are prepared to make Eto'o the highest paid player in the Premier League as well as fork out the full asking price of £25m...

Alex Ferguson's opinion of Real Madrid will not have improved after the Spanish giants, for so long a thorn in his side, continue to threaten his move for Wigan winger Antonia Valencia. The Telegraph reports that both clubs have had £18m offers accepted and now the Ecuadorean must choose between them - he is expected to pick United though as he wants to stay in England and would prefer to replace rather than understudy Cristiano Ronaldo. According to the Mirror Ferguson may also offer Wigan the services of Nani as a makeweight in the deal...

Ferguson has hit choppy waters in his bid to sign Brazilian teenager Douglas Costa says the Times. United to take Douglas on a three-week trial but his club Gremio have told the Premier League champions to make a straight cash bid or end their interest...

However the United boss will be pleased to see that Lyon have moved to find a replacement for Karim Benzema, the Mirror reports they have offered £15m for Porto forward Lisandro Lopez. Ferguson hopes to sign the French striker for £30m...

Italian club AC Milan say they have turned down a "monster offer" from a Premier League side, thought to be Chelsea, for their teenage striker Alexandre Pato, says the Guardian. The 19-year-old Brazilian had been linked with a move to Chelsea, but the Italian side's vice president Adriano Galliani insists Pato is going nowhere...

After being linked to Michael Owen, Stoke boss Tony Pulis is now ready to pay £5m for Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins according to the Star... ·