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All the buzz around Manchester City is still inevitably focused around Kaka, but there are plenty of other transfer goings-on at Eastlands.

For a start, there is the rumoured interest in Roma's commanding central midfielder Daniele De Rossi, who will soon be the subject of a £20 million bid from City, it says here.

Roma manager Luciano Spalletti has ruled out talk of his club cashing in on City's willingness to spend over the odds, insisting that his club will not be selling one of their best players.

He said: "A multi-million offer by City for De Rossi? There have not been any offers. However, De Rossi is a player that is admired by many teams."

However, the Giallorossi will find it hard to resist such a high bid.

David Beckham reckons that his Milan team-mate Kaka won't be joining De Rossi at City, though. Following his home debut in the 1-0 over Fiorentina on Saturday, Becks said: "I don't think it was Kaka's last game for us. He's very happy here."

The former England captain, who moved to the MLS on a five-year, £128m contract with LA Galaxy, added: "It's not always about money. There is not one player in that dressing room who cares about money before football. I hope he stays."

Even Giorgio Armani has been getting in on the act, telling Gazzetta Dello Sport: "Kaka's transfer? I would rather tell (Milan chief Adriano) Galliani to sell all of Milan. It's useless to sell such an important player. I would be very sad if Kaka left. With Kaka and his wife I have a splendid relationship, they are wonderful people. But I understand that such an offer is difficult to turn down."

While all this is going on, the £18m capture of Nigel de Jong has slipped nicely under the radar. The Hamburg defensive midfielder is set to fill a role far more essential to City's fortunes than the one Kaka would fill, and the deal is expected to be completed within the next two days.

All this splashing out on the present could be coming at the expense of the future, however. City's highly-rated 19-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge is yet to be offered a contract he is satisfied with and, with his current deal expiring at the end of the season, the club may live to regret it for years to come if he leaves.

With Craig Bellamy's move to City nearing completion, West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is already spending the £14m in his mind.

The big fluffy thought bubble above his vaguely equine head contains visions of Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley and Fiorentina striker Pablo Daniel Osvaldo sporting claret and blue. It'll take £5m for Cardiff and £7m to La Viola to make those dreams become reality.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has taken another swipe at the club's hierarchy over their stalling in offering defender Daniel Agger a new contract.

Benitez - who himself turned down a new contract offer on Friday - said: "The club has been too slow on his contract. Agger is now in the papers because we were not quick enough. Agger was telling me he wants to stay. His commitment to the club is 100 per cent but they have been waiting and waiting and waiting and we don't know what is happening."

Meanwhile at Anfield, Monaco are eyeing up a move for Moroccan winger Nabil El Zhar.

Portsmouth boss Tony Adams remains hopeful of convincing Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant to join Pompey, but only if he really wants to, saying: "If he doesn't want to then it is the same situation as Jermain Defoe - I won't take him on board if he doesn't want it. I need players working hard and scrapping and in it together."

However, Adams may find he has competition from Everton, who are hoping to hold out and get Pennant on a free transfer in the summer.

Arsenal's new chief executive Ivan Gazidis is due to meet Zenit St Petersburg officials tomorrow to sort out this Andrei Arshavin business once and for all, according to the Daily Express.

Long after most people have forgotten the Russian's eye-catching performances for his country at Euro 2008, or even who won that tournament in the end, the Gunners are hopeful of landing the most-touted player in Europe for £14m.

Marlon Harewood's five-minute cameos shielding the ball by the corner flag for Aston Villa have impressed Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate so much that he wants him to replace Mido , after he failed to swap Newcastle's Alan Smith for the injury-prone Egyptian.

If Wigan do lose either Amr Zaki or Emile Heskey, they could find a new striker arriving at the club to replace them soon - Marlon King.

King, currently on loan at Hull City from the Latics, was sent home by Tigers boss Phil Brown before Saturday's match against Arsenal when he reacted angrily to being left out of the starting line-up again.

A Hull source squealed: "He (King) was sent packing from the changing room and it's doubtful whether he still has a future at the club now."

Elsewhere, Joe Kinnear will table an improved £5m bid to bring Rennes midfielder Stephane Mbia to Newcastle, Blackburn fancy the look of Metz striker Babacar Gueye and Inter boss Jose Mourinho has refuted claims he wants to bring Jermaine Jenas to Serie A.

Tony Mabert / Eurosport