It's that time of the year when the papers are looking for any clues as to which will be the big pre-season transfers, and somebody at the Express has their thinking cap on.

Martin O'Neill, writes the industrious Tony Paskin, "has hit a transfer roadblock which is stopping his bid to build an Aston Villa challenge for Premier League glory this season."

So what's that to City? The Express explains: "O’Neill has been forced to agree to a sell-to-buy policy by American owner Randy Lerner, but he cannot offload any of the players he wants out the door at Villa Park to make way for fresh blood."

Hmm, now you can see where he's going with this. Villa's manager, then, might have to consider trading one of the players he would prefer to keep is the inference.

And who might that be? Well, the Express continues, "that could force O’Neill into a climb-down in his war of attrition with Manchester City over the sale of James Milner."

We are told: "Ironically, their most saleable asset is England international Milner ... and Villa could raise some much-needed funds for their own shopping in the transfer market.

"But Villa have shown no intention of shifting from their £30m valuation of Milner, which is understood to be at least £5m more than City are willing to pay. City have warned ... (they) will look elsewhere if a deal cannot be struck."

The Daily Star, meanwhile, reports that Arsenal are closing in on Joe Cole, now a free agent after his Chelsea contract ended, but they addd that City are interested. And Milan. And Valencia. And Tottenham ...

Oh, and Noel Gallagher, the popular beat combo guitarist, had lunch with Garry Cook and was delighted with Garry's plans for the club, says the Sun. As are we all!