The general consensus seems to be that City's sights will be trained along the M62 rather than on west London, and that one expensive signing could be heading back to Merseyside on loan.

The Mirror

"Manchester City try for Joleon Lescott after John Terry snub"

Manchester City will now set their sights on Joleon Lescott after the failure of their audacious attempt to land John Terry.

Eastlands boss Mark Hughes has already made one informal approach for the Everton defender and will now offer more than his initial amount of around £15million.

And that will leave Lescott facing a big decision, with moneybags City ready to almost treble his wages.

Lescott is reluctant to push for a move - even though he would gain so much - because of his loyalty to Everton boss David Moyes, who gambled on buying him from Wolves.

Moyes is adamant he does not want to lose a key player and will fight hard to keep him, even if City increase their offer to £20m as expected.

It will leave Lescott with the stark choice of either quitting Goodison or turning his back on £90,000 a week - three times his current salary.

Manchester City will now set their sights on Joleon Lescott after the failure of their audacious attempt to land John Terry.

Eastlands boss Mark Hughes has already made one informal approach for the Everton defender and will now offer more than his initial amount of around £15million.

And that will leave Lescott facing a big decision, with moneybags City ready to almost treble his wages.

Lescott is reluctant to push for a move - even though he would gain so much - because of his loyalty to Everton boss David Moyes, who gambled on buying him from Wolves.

Moyes is adamant he does not want to lose a key player and will fight hard to keep him, even if City increase their offer to £20m as expected.

It will leave Lescott with the stark choice of either quitting Goodison or turning his back on £90,000 a week - three times his current salary.

The Times

"Jo to stay at Everton next season"

Jô, the Manchester City striker, is to stay with Everton on a season-long loan.

The Brazil forward, 22, spent four months of last season on loan at Goodison Park, where he scored five goals in 11 Barclays Premier League games and David Moyes, the Everton manager, was eager to bring the player back.

City remain determined to sign Joleon Lescott, the Everton defender, but that deal would have to be done independently of Jô, who has struggled to make an impression in Manchester since his move for £19 million from CSKA Moscow last summer.

Mark Hughes, the City manager, will monitor Jô’s progress next season but the forward does not figure in his long-term plans.