And on the eighth day… the transfer rumours shifted up a gear with Cheick Tiote, Thiago Silva and Wayne Rooney all linked with City today.

We’re more than a quarter of the way through January already and there are enough reports on Carlos Tevez today to suggest an agreement is imminent.

The Daily Star on Sunday, Sunday Mirror and The People all have varied versions of the seemingly inevitable deal that will finally allow all parties to move forward.

All three tabloids suggest personal terms have been agreed and the Blues and Milan are close to finalising a deal that will see the Argentine swap sky blue for red and black.

The Star add that Inter’s late attempt to hijack their city rivals’ coup has come too late and Tevez prefers AC anyway, but The Sunday Times reckon Inter are now favourites!

However, AC Milan chief Adriano Galliani has told Sky Italia: “We have reached an agreement with the player, now there’s an on-going negotiation with City and we expect an answer.”

The People suggest if the transfer is completed in the next few days, Roberto Mancini will then move for Roma’s Daniel De Rossi or Thiago Silva.

Of course, the fact that it is the Manchester derby today means that there are inevitably a few stories suggesting the Blues will make a massive bid for United striker Wayne Rooney – but only if the Reds offer encouragement.

The Sunday Mirror, along with The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday, have gone big on this particular thread, but with United, Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson all denying there are any problems within the Red camp, it’s hard to see there being any truth in the rumour as things stand - but it will certainly sell a few thousand extra copies of each paper!

The Mirror also suggest the Blues are interested in Newcastle’s Cheick Tiote – but so are about a dozen other clubs, so expect there to be more of the same over the next few weeks.

There will be more rumours and speculation tomorrow…