Paper Round: Man City set to swoop for Drogba

Man City is shock Drogba swoop: Manuel Pellegrini is preparing a shock bid to hijack Didier Drogba's return to Chelsea, according to the Daily Mirror. Pellegrini needs reinforcements up front after Alvaro Negredo was ruled out for up to fourth months with a broken metatarsal. Drogba was expected to return to old club Chelsea but could elect instead to move to the Etihad.

Paper Round’s view: This story is not as ridiculous as it seems on first reading. Drogba is, excuse the turn of phrase, Chelsea through and through. However, he left the club on the ultimate high having won the Champions League with his last kick as a Chelsea player. Why risk that legacy? Why go back and threaten that? A move to the champions would suit both City and Drogba – City get a proven Premier League striker and Drogba gets a move back to the Premier League. With Alvaro Negredo injured he might even play a key role.

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United close in on Hummels: Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels is set to join Manchester United in a deal worth £16 million, reports the Daily Mail. The two clubs are currently locked in talks regarding the transfer of the 26-year-old but United are increasingly confident of securing a deal for the player. United are prioritising defensive reinforcements following the departure of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand from the club.

Paper Round’s view: For a player of his calibre and age, £16 million seems a remarkably reasonable fee particularly in today’s market. If United can secure his services for that little money then the sooner they close this deal the better.

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United poised to swoop for Blind: Manchester United are readying a £17m offer for Ajax star Daley Blind, reports the Daily Express. The report cites Italian sources that Louis Van Gaal has prioritised the 24-year-old as the club’s third signing of the summer. Van Gaal sees Blind’s versatility as key after the departures of left backs Alexander Buttner and Patrice Evra.

Paper Round’s view: This deal makes complete sense for all parties involved. Blind gets a move to a major European league to work with a manager he knows while United get a versatile player who can cover a number of positions as the Old Trafford club begin the significant process of re-building an ageing squad.

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Leicester targeting former Chelsea player Malouda: Nigel Pearson is set to bid for former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, according to the Daily Mirror. Malouda is currently on the books of Turkish side Trabzonspor but the report mentions no fee for a player who won one Premier League title, three FA Cups and a Champions League in six trophy-laden years at the Bridge.

Paper Round’s view: Right idea; wrong player. Promoted sides often struggle to match the firepower once in the Premier League so manager Nigel Pearson is right to be targeting reinforcements in those areas. However, what does Malouda have to prove in English football? Not much, really. He is 34 now and one wonders whether he would have the required hunger for what would likely be a relegation scrap.