what the papers say

Talk about Torres

The Daily Mail

'Man City's statement of intent as Arabs try to tempt Liverpool star Torres with £200,000-a-week offer - reports'

Mega-rich Manchester City will try to tempt Liverpool superstar Fernando Torres to Eastlands with a amazing £200,000-a-week wage offer, according to reports.

The Daily Mirror alleges that representatives of the Barclays Premier League club’s Abu Dhabi owners have made discreet contact with the Liverpool striker’s advisers within the last fortnight.

While there has been no official approach or a formal offer, it is understood the Spaniard’s agents have had the prospect of an incredible deal spelt out to them in no uncertain terms.

Such a pay increase would effectively double the Euro 2008 winner's Liverpool salary.

And while Torres has made it clear that he would not be interested in any offer at any price, it is still a sobering reflection of just how powerful City could become in the market.

The Independent

'Sampdoria rule out Cassano move to Man City'

Sampdoria have ruled out the possibility of Antonio Cassano moving to Manchester City this winter. Reports have linked the former Real Madrid and Roma striker with a switch to City but the Serie A club's administrator, Beppe Marotta, insisted yesterday he was not for sale.

"Regarding the interest of Manchester City for Cassano, I must say that Antonio will not leave Genoa in January," Marotta said. "Since he arrived at Sampdoria, Antonio has delighted us with his fantastic play and it's normal that this will attract interest from great clubs in Europe, including Manchester City. But I wouldn't talk about an open negotiation, there are other clubs that want Antonio."

The 26-year-old striker has already turned down an offer to join City, in the summer of 2007, when he opted for a return to Serie A and joined Sampdoria on loan from Real Madrid.

Cassano has never fulfilled the promise that persuaded Roma to sign him as an 18-year-old for £19.5m in 2000 from Bari. His career has been dogged by incidents of indiscipline and when he was suspended by Real in October 2006 said he would "walk all the way back to Rome" to get away from their then coach, Fabio Capello.