There have been some crazy transfer deals this summer and Chelsea are set to continue the trend, if Sunday’s newspaper reports are to be believed.

The News of The World claim that Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti will pay an astonishing £45m for Alexandre Pato and then loan him back to AC Milan for a year.

A Stamford Bridge insider said: "Ancelotti's so keen to capture Pato that he will pay a club record fee and still allow the kid to stay at Milan for another season. That tells you how highly he values him."

The Blues have also tabled a last-ditch British record £40m bid for Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery, according to the Sunday Mirror.

Over at Old Trafford Manchester United are lining up Everton boss David Moyes to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as manager, when he finally quits, after winning the support of several senior Old Trafford board members.

People Sport reports that powerful factions within United's hierarchy, including Sir Bobby Charlton, have already decided that when Fergie retires - possibly as soon as next summer - the Everton boss should take over.

Manchester City will have to break the British transfer record to get the Everton defender Joleon Lescott, according to the Daily Star on Sunday. And want-away Lescott has been told that even if he writes out a transfer request he won't get a move without the cash coming in.

The Mail on Sunday claim the West Ham United are set to sell England defender Matthew Upson as they need to raise £10m to ward off creditors.

Rafael Benítez has confirmed his interest in signing Michael Turner from Hull City after Liverpool's defensive problems mounted at home to Atlético Madrid on Saturday, reports The Observer.

The Liverpool manager has fitness doubts over all three of his first-choice centre-halves ahead of their opening Premier League game at Tottenham on Sunday, after Jamie Carragher limped out of the 2-1 defeat with a twisted ankle.