Football news- Paper Round: Manchester City consider surprise Sebastian Rudy swoop

Pep Guardiola is considering a surprise move to reinforce his midfield for the rest of the season. With Fernandinho the only player he trusts at the base of the midfield, The Sun reports that Manchester City will attempt to bring in Sebastian Rudy from Schalke. Rudy played for Hoffenheim when Guardiola managed Bayern Munich. He is out of favour with his current club and may be available on a short-term deal for a fee.

Paper Round’s view: At 28, Rudy would provide cover for Fernandinho and give the club the chance to make a more considered, long-term transfer in the summer. Frenkie de Jong is one such option, but for now Rudy would be able to offer an experienced presence in midfield to help them through a busy period of Premier League and Champions League football.

Manchester United have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Porto central defender Eder Militao. The 21-year-old is wanted by Real Madrid, and has a release clause of 50 million euros. The Spanish club could activate the clause as it increases to 75 million should no move be agreed in the winter transfer window - reports The Mirror. His agent Giuliano Bertoluci said: “There is no possibility of the player leaving his current club in the winter market.”

Paper Round’s view: Manchester United’s quasi director of football Ed Woodward is unlikely to spend that much money while he has the cover of a new manager to suggest that things can be fixed on the cheap, but they will eventually have to bring in a defender if they ever find one that Woodward believes is better than Phil Jones. Real Madrid seem a more likely destination and have the financial resources to act quickly.

Ashley Cole could soon be back in English football as he looks set to join Derby County in the next 48 hours. The Mail believes that he will earn £15,000 a week by teaming up with former Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard. Lampard wants cover for his squad as he attempts to gain promotion to the Premier League, and Cole wants first-team football before deciding whether or not to retire in the summer.

Paper Round’s view: Cole’s time in MLS has given him less intense football for the last couple of seasons after a brief spell with Roma. That should allow him to return for a few months’ action in The Championship in excellent physical condition. Lampard will be able to judge if he is the right kind of character to steer his new side through the business end of the season.

Chelsea expect to complete a deal for AC Milan striker Gonzalo Higuain in the coming days. His loan deal from Juventus will be curtailed and he will instead move to Stamford Bridge to work under his former boss at Napoli, Maurizio Sarri. His contract in London will earn him £270,000 a week, and The Star believes that will put him in the top five earners in English football.

Paper Round’s view: Higuain is likely only going to stay at the top of his game for another season or two, and for that reason a loan deal for Chelsea makes sense. Higuain and Sarri are both looking for something to get their seasons back on track: Chelsea struggled against Arsenal and Higuain has lost his way in Milan.