Next stop: Tévez

This morning's papers suggest that a deal for Carlos Tévez is simply a matter of time. Check out Sam Wallace in The Independent:

The expectation among Mark Hughes' backroom staff is that the deal for Tevez is already in the bag and it is only a matter of time before the Manchester United player joins him. Following the announcement from United at the weekend that they would not be signing him permanently, the way is clear with the 25-year-old understood to have shown little interest in joining Chelsea.

Or Mark Ogden in The Telegraph:

Senior City officials held talks with Tevez's representatives in Abu Dhabi at the end of last month and, although no binding agreement between the two parties is in place, a five-year deal worth £140,000 a week is understood to have been placed on the table by City.

Barring a late move by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who is keen to land a major signing for new manager Carlo Ancelotti after failing to attract a marquee acquisition so far this summer, City are confident that they will be in a position to sign Tevez once his loan contract with United officially expires next Tuesday.

Neil Custis in The Sun goes even further and claims that:

MANCHESTER CITY have completed the £40million signing of Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz.

Tevez, 25, agreed to the astonishing move from Old Trafford, as we predicted back on May 23, after a long chat with City boss Mark Hughes convinced him of the club's ambitions.

The Argie striker became sick of being down the pecking order at United and Hughes told him he will be his main hitman.

His £25.5m move will be completed on July 1 when his two-year loan deal with United comes to an end.

Regardless of whether the deal is 90%, 95% or 100% done, it does sound like we will have to wait until July 1 for the official announcement. Which is a shame because I'm going on holiday early that morning. Fortunately I'm back for the Vodacom Challenge.