As ever this month, there is only one place to start when it comes to transfer tittle tattle. Manchester City fans look away now, your club is back in the stocks with the rest of football getting ready to throw rotten tomatoes.

Kaka has turned down the Citizens (Source: everyone). Why? The Daily Star say City were not allowed to talk to the player, a line backed up by grandiosely titled executive chairman Garry Cook, ever the smooth operator, who told Sky Sports, that Milan had "bottled it", which will be a lot of use when it comes to pulling off his latest megadeal.

Word to the wise, Gaz, if you're going to lose out on players, slagging them off after will mean that other clubs will probably be cautious about dealing with you. That could cost more money; though as that seems to be no object then as you were. Just don't expect the elite to welcome your approaches to their players.

Most other media, including The Guardian and The Sun, say Kaka's back turned as soon as he saw the Milan fans reaction to his leaving of Lombardy. The Daily Mail says that the Brazilian was never actually made a wages offer by Cook and co and that his people felt they were dealing with rank amateurs. One source said: "They acted as if this was just a game." City deny the claims.

Not only that but now Robinho has decided to quit a training camp in Tenerife for reasons yet unknown. It seems his time at City may already be drawing to a close.

And, piling on the agony is the fact that their showy offer for Kaka has forced the price up for their other targets. Thought £14m for Craig Bellamy was excessive, £15m for Dutch engine-room operator Nigel De Jong looked pricey? Try £40m for Roque Santa Cruz from Rovers, as has widely been reported in the English media.

The best laid plans are looking Sheikh-y....

Apologies for that, on with the rest of the rumours. Arshavin corner has City joining the chase after Dick Advocaat said he thought the playmaker would be leaving Zenit St Petersburg. The Times says Arsenal still lead the chase. Nicklas Bendtner, Mr Popular himself, could be offloaded to pay for that deal, say The Daily Express.

Shay Given may be arriving at Eastlands if you read The Sun and the Star; which may not take you too long. Newcastle meanwhile have targeted a trio from the French league - The Guardian have Batefembi Gomis, Stephan Mbia and John Arne Riise as their targets.

Portsmouth boss Tony Adams seems to be stuck between flogging his best men and looking for cheaper replacements. Juventus' Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen is the man to replace Lassana Diarra, say The Sun while The Independent say Tony is still eager to convince Jermaine Pennant to Fratton Park.

How about Spurs? The hangdog features of Harry Redknapp have been sinking further down his fizzog of late. What better to lift his spirits and his sagging dewlaps than a bit of wheeling and dealing? He waits on Wilson Palacios of Wigan (various) though funding could be a problem. Predecessor Martin Jol may be able to provide some of the folding if he buys similarly rotund midfield man Tom Huddlestone for Hamburg. They could soon be enjoying generous helpings of German sausage together if the Daily Mail is to be believed. Anyway, The Independent say that the Palacios deal is in place.

Wigan meanwhile, may lose another of their crown jewels if The Daily Telegraph's flier on Manchester United signing Antonio Valencia is to be believed. After the roasting Valencia handed out last week to John O'Shea, it could be relief in the utility man's household and some worries at Nani's house. Though Chelsea and Real Madrid are both in the mix too.

The Mail also have United being interested in French wonderkid Yven Moyo from Sochaux, a young man they have supposedly had scouts watching for some time.

United are taking a back seat in their hometown at the moment. City, the gift that just keeps on giving, are entertaining us all.