I had thought of cutting and pasting our blog from ten days ago and just replacing the name John Terry with Joleon Lescott but then that would be lazy wouldn't it? Anyway, brace yourself for more posturing from cash-rich Manchester City, defiance from the soon-to-be-raided manager and a confused player caught in the middle.

According to the Daily Mirror, Lescott is to write to Everton chairman Bill Kenwright and ask very politely if he can go to Moneybags FC, having already told David Moyes he wants out of Everton. It seems no man can resist the opportunity to treble one's meagre earnings (£30,000 a week).

But, according to The Sun, City will draw a line under their pursuit of Lescott if they can't prize him away from Goodison Park by the end of the week - and do us all a favour in the process.

That bastion of hard news - the Daily Star - says Lescott is going nowhere, after Moyes told him in no uncertain terms his future lies on Merseyside. But just in case, the Toffees boss is eyeing up a move for Arsenal's Philippe Senderos should Kenwright cave in and accept £30m for the defender.

Another centre-half in demand is Newcastle's Sebastien Bassong. He is set to hand in his own transfer request at the beleaguered Toon so he can engineer a switch to Manchester City or Spurs. That's in the Daily Mirror.

The Sun reports Arsenal are close to signing Chelsea's Solomon for £8m, while the Daily Express shocks everybody by informing us Darren Bent is set to sign for Sunderland today. Well, I never.

And it wouldn't be a transfer blog without a brief mention of Xabi Alonso would it? The Guardian would have us believe Real still haven't stumped up the required £30m, and that Roma's Alberto Aquilani is on strict orders that it will only be one in, one out at Anfield.

However, the Daily Mail reckon Rafa Benitez may fancy Standard Liege midfielder Steven Defour instead.

And to finish, The Sun say Hull will set their sights on Pascal Chimbonda should Phil Brown fail to secure Habib Beye's services from Newcastle, while The Independent reports Amr Zaki could pitch up at Portsmouth.