According to the Mirror, Manchester City are preparing a £15m for Barcelona full-back Dani Alves. The Brazilian helped his side dismantle City in a 4-2 aggregate win over the blues in the last 16 of the Champions League this year, but could be sold to help finance the £500m cost of remodelling Barcelona's 98,000 capacity stadium. City, who are resigned to losing club hero Micah Richards this summer, have set their sights on providing cover for Pablo Zabaleta with Arsenal's Bacary Sagna also on their wishlist. The 30-year-old currently has a £30m buy-out-clause in his contract, but could join the blues in a cut-price deal.
Football Direct News understand that Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Javi García at the end of the season. The Spaniard has enjoyed more first team football under Manuel Pellegrini, however, after making just 21 appearances so far this term, most of his time has still be spent warming the substitute's bench.
(Javi García is believed to be a popular figure in Manchester City's dressing room)
Tim Sherwood's side have struggled against the league's elite this year and fell to yet another thrashing at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, and a holding midfielder could be the key to plugging the leaks in the side. Manuel Pellegrini is believed to be reluctant to sell the 27-year-old who played a significant roll in helping Spanish stars Álvaro Negredo and Jesús Navas settle into the team, but the London club are expected to test the Chilean's resolve with a £10m bid.
In other news, the Manchester Evening News report that Martin Demichelis is beginning to feel at home in Manchester after receiving messages of support from fans this week. The Argentine was heavily criticised for his dodgy defending earlier in the season after giving away crucial penalties in both the FA Cup and Champions league, but a run of five games without conceding a goal has highlighted the importance of the 33-year-old's experience alongside Vincent Kompany. His recent spell of form has been met with plenty of praise from admiring City fans, and the defender has welcomed those messages with a smile.
(Martin Demichelis appears to be settling into life in Manchester)
“I welcome those messages,” said Demichelis. “My confidence is very high and I feel I am in really good form and am happy to help the team.
“It’s true that I conceded penalties in two different competitions, and it’s true they were punctual mistakes, but I am not in bad shape and am full of confidence.
“I could have been worried, for example, that Olivier Giroud might win all the high balls, but he didn’t, and I could have been late into the challenges, but I wasn’t.
“I felt I played well at Arsenal and my form is high – and the positive messages are good.”
Manuel Pellegrini has once again dismissed José Mourinho's monotonous mind games and claims the Portuguese's comments are fooling nobody. The Chilean stated that he expects Mourinho's side to continue to challenge for the title, despite watching his rivals slip up to Crystal Palace this weekend.
(Manuel Pellegrini has shrugged off a fresh batch of mind games from José Mourinho)
“Mind games?” the Manchester City boss is quoted as saying in the Guardian. “I don’t think important managers can give any importance to those mind games. I don’t know if you think managers who seem to play mind games are more intelligent? I don’t think so.”
“I don’t know the way he thinks, my way of thinking is that the four teams have the same options to win the title. We have to win those six points [from the games in hand]. We don’t have six points more, we have two games postponed.”
And finally, Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson believes the title is still Manchester City's to lose despite watching his beloved Liverpool side thrash Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 on Sunday. The ex-player praised his old side in his column for the Mirror, but believes Pellegrini's side will pip them to the title.
"For some time now I’ve been saying that although Liverpool can win the Premier League they ultimately won’t – and I still believe that," Lawrenson wrote.
"The Reds have been magnificent all season, shooting their way out of trouble and that sends confidence right the way through the team.
"Defenders will be thinking: ‘Even if I make a mistake, either Suarez or Sturridge or Coutinho can score a goal.’ It takes the pressure off.
(Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez have scored 49 goals between them this season)
"But for Liverpool to win the league they will have to turn eight wins in a row into 14.
"That is a massive ask.
"And I think Manchester City’s deeper squad will just give them the edge."
