Strikers and money dominate the day’s City news in the Sunday papers...for a change!

Despite the Blues not being in action this weekend the News of the World takes its usual healthy interest in our affairs with Neil Ashton particularly prolific.

In his first piece the scribe informs readers that Emmanuel Adebayor, currently serving a four-match ban, may be ready to leave.

“The African attacker is one of the highest paid players in the country and has only played 18 times in the Premier League for the Eastlands outfit,” he writes.

“City's plans for next season depend largely on the future of Roberto Mancini, but they also face a battle to hold on to Adebayor.

“The latest training ground rumblings at City suggest the club will have a fight on their hands to keep hold of the Togo forward.”

Mr Ashton’s second piece may well be connected to his first as he takes up the theory that we are plotting a summer swoop for Gonzalo Higuain at Real Madrid.

“City's undercover scouts sent a glowing report back to the club after his stunning strike beat Germany,” he exclaims.

“Higuain is at the centre of a contract dispute with Real officials after turning down their latest offer of an improved deal.

The striker has scored 16 goals in 18 La Liga appearances this season and is considered to be one of the best strikers in Spain.”

Elsewhere in the same paper Chris Bascombe, their Merseyside expert, dampens hopes that Spanish idol Fernando Torres may find his way along the M62.

“Torres will be offered the chance to become 'the face of Liverpool' to fend off mega bids from Manchester City and Barcelona,” he declares.

“The Merseysiders are in talks with the striker's advisors to massively enhance Torres' commercial earnings as they try to kill off speculation about his future.

Torres signed a £100k a week four year deal last summer, but the terms will be made much more lucrative following this summer's World Cup.”

Somewhat less exotically Alan Oliver in the People reckons City are among the pack of clubs ready to relieve The Magpies’ nest of one of its prime assets.

“Newcastle face a fight to hang on to in-form striker Andy Carroll in the summer - with a number of Premier League big guns keeping tabs on the young hitman,” he reckons.

“Manager Chris Hughton took the chance to watch Carroll play for England Under-21s in their defeat by Greece at Doncaster on Wednesday.

“And he must have felt uneasy at the number of top-flight managers and scouts at the Keepmoat Stadium, most of them watching Carroll

“Newcastle have already turned down bids from Stoke City and Wolves for Carroll, and Hughton knows the big boys - including Tottenham, Manchester City and Everton - are ready to move in during the summer.”

In the Mail of Sunday, finally, Rob Draper reckons that ‘Roman Abramovich and Sheikh Mansour may still be able to fund their teams under Uefa’s new financial rules but will have to do so in future by sponsoring their own clubs!”