Vincent Kompany is set to be suspended for three games after his red card in Manchester City's 2-0 win at Arsenal on Sunday, so Roberto Mancini is going down the wishful-thinking route of solving a problem by targeting Borussia Dortmund duo Neven Subotic AND Mats Hummels.
Hummels and Subotic have been superb for Borussia
Subotic and Hummels are arguably the best central defensive partnership in Europe and have already marshalled what attacks City mounted in their two Champions League group stage games earlier this season.
Serbian Subtoic recently signed a new contract, which is one caveat in the Mirror's gossip tale this morning.
Miserly Arsenal may be about to add some much-needed steel to their squad with the addition of West Ham's Mohamed Diamé, perhaps the best free transfer signing of the season.
Formerly at Wigan, Diamé is currently injured but has been in inspirational form for the Hammers since his arrival in the summer. The Sun estimate a £3.5m fee could secure the Senegal international.
Yesterday it seemed Loïc Rémy was about to sign for Newcastle but now QPR may have, to coin a football cliché, hijacked the deal to bring the Frenchman to west London.
Rémy practises for when QPR go down
Rémy, who did a mini tour of the Premier League two-and-a-half-years ago, looks likely to leave Marseille for £8m, and should he make the move to Loftus Road could be joined by the irascible Yann M'Vila from Rennes. It may be a sinking ship at Loftus Road, but it's an expensive one.
Manchester United could have competition for the signature of Robert Lewandowski, with Juventus now said to be interested in the Borussia Dortmund striker, suggest Tuttosport.
Lewandowski, who scored the first goal of Euro 2012, has been repeatedly linked with United for months but Juve lack an outstanding forward to spearhead their attack.
The paper also add Internazionale president Massimo Moratti has advised Welsey Sneijder to be "professional" and respond to an offer from Galatasaray. The two clubs have agreed on a transfer, but the Dutch playmaker is reluctant to make the step down, sorry, move to Turkey.
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, 22, is on Barcelona's short-list as they draw plan to replace Victor Valdes, whose future at Camp Nou is uncertain after contract talks broke down, claim the Star.
Barça-bound?
AC Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani has ruled out a move for Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, a week after Rossoneri owner Silvio Berlusconi labelled the 22-year-old a "rotten apple".
And in the Guardian, José Mourinho has reiterated his desire to work in the Premier League yet again, two days after he attended Manchester United's victory over Liverpool.
Madrid misery