Man U and Arsenal chase PSG stars; Chelsea plan German swap

As Cristiano Ronaldo proved by winning the Ballon d'Or for the second year running, football is all about goalscorers and some of the Premier League big guns are said to be eyeing predatory talent on the other side of the channel today. Elsewhere there is news of two former Man United trainees, who could end up facing off in Serie A, while Louis van Gaal's transformation into the new David Moyes continues as he plots a raid on Everton, and the Lionel Messi saga rumbles on.

• The Daily Star reports that Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd have all received a "huge boost" in their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain pair Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi. According to the paper the two have been "snubbed" by PSG gaffer Laurent Blanc, who dropped from the squad to play St Etienne tonight in their League Cup quarter-final clash. It's the third consecutive time that Lavezzi and Cavani have been left on the sidelines, and in the Star's eyes it's proof their time is up in the French capital. Arsenal were linked with a move for striker Cavani earlier in the month while the two north-west clubs are apparently keen on signing frontman Lavezzi.

• The Manchester Evening News reports that Manchester United are "confident" of signing Everton right-back Seamus Coleman in a £25m deal. Toffees manager Roberto Martinez has long insisted that the 26-year-old Irishman is going nowhere but the MEN claims "Coleman could yet complete a move to Old Trafford this month". Though no official approach has yet been made it's believed United are weighing up a move in the next fortnight, although Louis van Gaal might also decide to wait until the summer.

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• Chelsea could sacrifice Andre Schurrle in order to bring his Germany team-mate Marco Reus to Stamford Bridge, says the Daily Express. Reus will be available for just £20m at the end of the season and the Blues are confident they can beat off competition from the likes of Arsenal and Man United by exploiting Dortmund's interest in Andre Schurrle. "Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of the former Bayer Leverkusen man, and would be open to a straight swap deal involving Schurrle and Reus," says the paper.

• The Daily Telegraph cannot resist the urge to speculate over the future of Lionel Messi, who has been sending out contradictory messages about his Barcelona future in recent days. "For the first time the possibility of Messi playing in England has substance," says the paper. "Not much, but enough for the imagination to conjure him in a Chelsea, Manchester United or Manchester City shirt." However, it admits that while Chelsea and City could just about stretch to £200m the price tag would "sweat" United so much it would cause floods in Old Trafford.

• Juventus have issued a good old-fashioned "hands off" warning to Man United and other suitors who have been eyeing midfielder Paul Pogba. The Sun says that the 21-year-old midfielder, a former United traineee who left Old Trafford on a free in 2012, is wanted by Van Gaal and the Dutchman is even "reported to be preparing a £77m bid". But the French international won't be sold whatever the sum offered by United claims Juve general director Giuseppe Marotta: "Every European club is watching him and have been in contact with us," he said. "We, however, want to have a strong team made up of champions... and we don't have a need to sell him."

• Arsenal's never ending quest for more goalkeepers continues and the Gunners are now apparently eyeing up Genoa's Mattia Perin after missing out on German keeper Loris Karius. The Daily Mirror says that Perin, who shone recently as he kept clean sheets against Juventus and AC Milan, is being watched by Arsenal scouts following Karius's decision to join Borussia Dortmund from Mainz.

• Ravel Morrison's curious career looks set to take another turn, with Sky Sports reporting that the West Ham midfielder is in talks with Lazio over a move to Italy. Alex Ferguson washed his hands of the Man United trainee two years ago and sold him to the Hammers. However, he has failed to settle and has been out on loan to Birmingham, QPR and Cardiff. West Ham are now so keen to get shot of Morrison they are prepared to let him leave for free this month, despite the fact he has an £18m buyout clause in his contract, not that anyone is about to pay that kind of money for the midfielder.

• Talksport confirms that Schalke have signed Matija Nastasic from Manchester City, "Schalke have now agreed with Manchester City the final details of a loan for Matija Nastasic subject to a medical," ran a statement on Schalke's website. The deal will run to the end of the season but Talksport say the German club have the option to make it a permanent move at the end of the season if all parties agree. The 21-year-old centre-back joined City from Fiorentina in 2012 and though a regular under former boss Roberto Mancini he hasn't found favour with Manuel Pellegrini.

• After landing Wilfried Bony, Metro says that Man City might be on the brink of farming out Edin Dzeko to Stoke. Having announced the deal to bring Bony to the Etihad on Sunday Bony, City are open to the idea of loaning the 28-year-old Dzeko to Stoke for the rest of the season. According to Metro the Bosnian striker could be tempted to the Potteries by the presence of goalkeeping compatriot Asmir Begovic at the club.

• Finally, the Daily Express says that Liverpool have finally got shot of misfiring Moroccan Oussama Assaidi. Signed from Heerenveen in 2012, the 26-year-old made only 12 appearances for the Reds and was loaned out to Stoke last season. But now it's been announced Assaidi will join reigning UAE champions Al Ahli allowing Brendan Rodgers to put behind him arguably the worst signing of his Liverpool managerial career.