While the odd free transfer may be going through elsewhere, the sports pages are fascinated by Mark Hughes' recruitment campaign as it becomes clear Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz can expect company soon in the new boys section on the team coach ...

Daily Mail

"The £100m week: City won't give up on Terry"

John Edwards writes: They only operate at the top end of the market these days, but Manchester City are ready to surpass even their own recent transfer dealings after receiving encouraging feedback in their pursuit of England skipper John Terry.

Chelsea have done all they can to ward off City, but misgivings over Terry's contentment at Stamford Bridge suggest they may be powerless to prevent a scenario that would have been unthinkable a couple of years ago.

City's pursuit of the England captain represents a major headache for new Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti - who will be unveiled later today - even though the club issued a defiant statement last week saying Terry is not for sale at any price.

Once unrivalled for financial muscle, the club bankrolled by Roman Abramovich's billions are in danger of losing their inspirational leader to an offer he cannot refuse as City activate an audacious plan to spend £100million inside a week.

Carlos Tevez will complete a £25m move on his return from holiday in the next few days, while Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o could follow him if delaying tactics aimed at attracting Champions League suitors prove unsuccessful.

Terry would be the prize capture, though, the biggest-ever transfer between English clubs at around £45million, and conclusive proof that the fortunes on offer from City's Abu Dhabi owners can be just as persuasive as instant access to Europe's elite club competition.

They were ridiculed when a protracted and embarrassingly public attempt to sign Kaka met its inevitable fate, but, increasingly, they are beginning to demonstrate they can elicit a serious response from players of world renown.

The first seeds of doubt may just have been sprouting in Robinho's mind, after City outbid Chelsea for his services last year, but he is starting to see the evidence he was looking for after a clear signal that Terry could yet be added to recent summer signings Gareth Barry and Roque Santa Cruz.

Chelsea reacted to continuing uncertainty over the 28-year-old's position by challenging him to submit a written transfer request if he wanted to speak to City, and there are genuine concerns within Stamford Bridge that he could yet call their bluff.

Sportsmail has learned Terry - who has so far failed to comment publicly on City's bids - has felt undervalued for a while.

City's immediate attempt to exploit that with an opening offer may have met with resistance, but only from Chelsea, not Terry. There are suspicions at City he may be using their manoeuvring to secure a pay rise, and it is understood his basic weekly wage at Eastlands would be less than £200,000, rather than the near-£300,000 quoted over the weekend.

Even so, City will channel all their efforts into luring him away after identifying him as the powerful personality needed to maintain dressing-room unity.

Manager Mark Hughes believes Terry's arrival would represent the most telling statement so far of what he intends to achieve. Sportsmail revealed a month ago how the sales pitch to Barry included an assurance that a deal had been agreed with Tevez.

Though Inter Milan have been priced out of the race for Eto'o, the Barcelona front-runner continues to stall over City's overtures, with possible interest from Manchester United the latest factor in his deliberations.

City still lead on financial considerations, however, and are hopeful a package worth £180,000 a week after stoppages will win him over.

Should Terry decide to stay put, City will revive their interest in Joleon Lescott and lodge a £20m bid for the Everton defender.

PS Great exclusive interview by Simon Mullock in the Sunday Mirror with Sheikh Mansour, in which the owner vows that the Club will not lose its soul during the Blue Revolution. Just a pity that the picture desk weren't quite as on the ball by publishing an image of Sulaiman Al-Fahim captioned Sheikh Mansour ...