Cahill to Chelea FC? Kovacic to Man City? Tevez to AC Milan?

The top stories making Wednesday's back pages in the UK...

Gary Cahill

The Sun: Andre Villas-Boas watched Chelsea storm into the Champions League last 16, then demanded more respect for his team.

Also: Manchester City have stepped up their pursuit of 17-year-old Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Mateo Kovacic, dubbed the 'Croatian Lionel Messi'.

And: Chelsea will let midfielder Josh McEachran join Bolton on loan to smooth their move for £8m-rated defender Gary Cahill.

Plus: Arsene Wenger slumped to defeat in his milestone 200th Euro tie - after a blunder by hapless keeper Vito Mannone.


Daily Mirror: Andre Villas-Boas declared he had delivered a "slap in the face" to his critics after a devastating Didier Drogba double bought him vital breathing space. 

Also: Sir Alex Ferguson insists he has no concerns over Wayne Rooney's state of mind as the England striker's Euro 2012 day of reckoning looms.

And: AC Milan will offer to pay all of Carlos Tevez's £200,000-a-week wages to take the striker on loan from Manchester City in January.

Plus: Juventus are considering a £15m move for Chelsea defender David Luiz, having already offered the Blues £2m for team-mate Alex.


Daily Star: Didier Drogba powered Chelsea into the last 16 of the Champions League last night. 

Also: The player Wayne Rooney kicked to earn his red card has pleaded with UEFA to cut the England star's three-match ban.


Daily Mail: Didier Drogba fired Chelsea into the last 16 of the Champions League at Stamford Bridge as Andre Villas-Boas let rip at those who dared to write off his team.


Daily Express: Didier Drogba destroyed Valencia at Stamford Bridge and sent Chelsea into the last 16 of the Champions League. 

Also: Roberto Mancini aimed a double broadside at Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis on the eve of Manchester City's biggest game of the season.

And: Swansea City face a battle with Liverpool over the signing of 19-year-old Cliftonville striker Rory Donnelly.


Metro: Arsenal marked Arsene Wenger's 200th European game in charge with a calamitous defensive display against Olympiakos.

Also: Manchester City's Champions League fate will be decided in their final group game at home to Bayern Munich when boss Roberto Mancini will also tackle one of the many critics of the club's big-money approach.

And: Sir Alex Ferguson has rejected fears Wayne Rooney may be distracted from Manchester United's Champions League mission by UEFA's disciplinary hearing into his three-match international ban.

Plus: Luis Suarez could find himself in yet more bother with the Football Association, after making a middle finger gesture to Fulham fans during Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat at Craven Cottage.


Daily Telegraph: Crisis? What crisis? Briefly fearful of the Europa League, Chelsea cruised into the knockout stages of the Champions League last night, even winning Group E, so ensuring they avoid heavyweights like Barcelona in the last 16. 

Also: Investigators from the FBI have interviewed members of England's failed 2018 World Cup bid as part of an investigation by the American law enforcement agency into alleged corruption, the Daily Telegraph can reveal.


The Times: Chelsea made light work of what began as a nervous evening at Stamford Bridge to ease through to the Champions League knockout phase last night for the eighth successive season.

Also: Carlos Tevez's representatives are close to reaching an agreement with AC Milan over a loan move in January, but Manchester City insist that they will accept only a permanent transfer for their former captain.


The Guardian: This may be the night that constituted the true start of Andre Villas-Boas's reign as manager. A resounding victory on an occasion when Didier Drogba, with two goals, was irresistible ushered Chelsea into the knockout phase of the Champions League as group winners. 

Also: Manchester City's desire to sever their ties with Carlos Tevez will see Milan make an opening offer to take him on loan for the rest of the season before paying €20million to sign him next summer.


The Independent: Didier Drogba offered a glimpse of the ability that once made him one of the most feared strikers in Europe last night as his two goals helped Chelsea sweep past Valencia 3-0 to join Arsenal in the last 16 of the Champions League as winners of Group E, easing the pressure on manager Andre Villas-Boas. 

Also: FIFA has been forced to postpone the publication of Swiss court documents that are believed to name senior officials who accepted payments, after legal action was taken by one of those involved.
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