Despite a seventh Premier League defeat at the weekend, some of the back pages still make for a feel-good read for Manchester United supporters. Today, the name "Juan Mata" and the phrase "talks are at an advanced stage" have cropped up, as David Moyes looks set to break the club's transfer record.
United will have to negotiate a £40 million package with Chelsea before next Friday's deadline, claim the Independent. One other club the Spaniard has been linked with is Atlético Madrid, and the Telegraph claim they will try to hijack United's deal by offering the English champions striker Diego Costa and left-back Filipe Luis, which seems quite rash for a club that are Barcelona's equal in the Primera Liga with a Champions League knockout tie with AC Milan to look forward to next month.
Despite all the Dante-to-United talk yesterday, the Bayern Munich defender's agent told PA he won't be going anywhere this month.
The Mirror have still included the 30-year-old Brazilian on their back page splash story on United's transfer market sweep, along with Mata, Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye and Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Patrick Herrmann.
Patrick Herrmann: Young, German and a midfielder
Moyes, who has a weekend off due to United's elimination from the FA Cup, is believed to be heading out to Germany to watch 22-year-old Herrmann face Bayern Munich on Friday.
When asked about an attacking midfielder United were linked with last month, Moyes scoffed at the possibility because they "have Wayne Rooney". But for how long? Something has changed, and both News International titles have splashed with the news Real Madrid will make a move for the 28-year-old in the summer. The Sun are adamant he will not sign a new deal with United.
The Telegraph have chipped in, and say Madrid could table a £25m offer for the striker, whose contract expires at the end of next season.