Roberto Mancini is ready to plunge into the transfer market fully confident that key targets will not be insisting on Champions League football. We know this thanks to the Mirror.

While it will always be an advantage to offer the elite tournament as enticement during summer recruiting, Bobby Manc tells David McDonnell why it's not the be-all and end-all.

In fact, "Disco" - his words dance across the page - reports the boss "has told Europe’s top stars they would be foolish to turn down City because of a lack of Champions League football.

"Mancini is after a host of big-name targets ... and although City narrowly failed to clinch a top-four place, he said players should recognise the long-term prospects for sustained success."

He quotes Roberto: "It’s important that players come here for the right reasons. A player may go to a club because they are in the Champions League. But then that club gets knocked out in the group stages – and they are in the same situation as us.

"The important thing is the project. We have a big project for the future here. That’s why I believe that if a player chooses City, they have made a fantastic choice."

Right next door on the page, John Cross predicts that City "will offer Shaun Wright-Phillips a new contract before the World Cup". Didn't need a dug-up crystal ball for that one, Crossy.

Elsewhere, the Star speculates that once Jose Mourinho has his feet under the desk at Real Madrid he will be in the hunt for Carlos Tevez, though reporter Danny Fullbrook reckons an estimated asking price of £45m might put them off.

And back at the Mirror, there's a low-key tale tucked away on page 54 suggesting that AC Milan are up for a half-price £17m deal to take Robinho to Serie A. We bet they are ...