Daniele de Rossi, the versatile Roma playmaker, is linked with a move to City in today's media coverage.

The 28-year-old mostly plays in midfield, but he impressed for Italy when shunted back into the Azzurri's back four at Euro 2012.

Roberto Mancini is said to be pursuing a long-standing interest in him and according to the Daily Star is close to getting his man.

"Mancini had been desperate to sign the Roma playmaker last summer and in the January transfer window.

"But the money men at City refused to sanction the deal and De Rossi signed a new contract with the Serie A side in February, which ties him to the club until 2017.

"Frustrated at a lack of signings this summer, Mancini has been pestering football director Brian Marwood to back his move for the 28-year-old. Mancini now seems to have got his way with City ready to pay just under £24m for Di Rossi."

One midfielder definitely with City is Yaya Toure, but the Mirror is looking ahead well into the upcoming season and the likelihood that the Ivorian will be absent for the 2013 African Nations Cup.

David McDonnell writes, "Yaya was thought to be ready to quit international football in the wake of Ivory Coast’s agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Zambia in the final of this year’s Africa Nations Cup.

"But Yaya claimed he and brother Kolo have unfinished business with the tournament, which has been moved forward a year to avoid clashes with future World Cups and European Championships.

"That means City face losing Yaya for another huge chunk of the season next January for the tournament in South Africa, a situation with which Mancini - already at loggerheads with his board over new signings - is certain to be unhappy."