What the back pages of the papers say - June 3

Manchester City will step up their ambitious plan to bring Ronaldinho to England when senior board members fly to his family home in Brazil at the weekend. Sources close to owner Thaksin Shinawatra revealed that members of City's Thai board are expected to meet the player face to face in Port Alegre.

Also: Fabio Capello has urged owner Roman Abramovich to appoint Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as the club's next manager.

THE TIMES

Manchester City will press ahead with plans to appoint Mark Hughes as manager after Blackburn reluctantly granted the club permission to speak to him. Although Rovers will not let City get Hughes and his backroom staff on the cheap and are expected to ask for up to £5million in compensation.

Also: Gareth Barry has given the strongest indication yet that he wants to leave Aston Villa for Liverpool by emphasising his desire to play in the Champions League.

Scolari in the frame: See Sportsmail's EXCLUSIVE report

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Former sprinter Michael Johnson is to take the unprecedented step of returning the last of his five Olympic gold medals as he now accepts that it was won unfairly. Johnson reached the decision after his former relay team-mate Antonio Pettigrew in the USA's gold-medal winning squad admitted that he used drugs at the Sydney Olympics.

Also: Arsenal's hope of signing Marseille playmaker Samir Nasri before the start of the European Championships have been dashed according to a Arsene Wenger while Barcelona are expected to confirm the arrival of Alexander Hleb at the Nou Camps in the next few days.

THE GUARDIAN

Jose Mourinho has told the Internazionale president Massimo Moratti that he wishes to make Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard his priority signing as he begins the latest chapter of his whirlwind managerial career.

Also: David Beckham has urged Cristiano Ronaldo to reject the overtures from Real Madrid and commit to Manchester United with the European champions braced for the footballer of the year to clarify his career plans.

THE INDEPENDENT

Manchester City hope to appoint Mark Hughes as a replacement for Sven-Goran Eriksson by tomorrow, with the uncertainty presented by the vacant Chelsea position a key factor in their determination to conclude a rapid deal.

Also: Heptathlete Jessica Ennis will miss this summer's Beijing Olympic Games after scans yesterday revealed she has a broken right ankle.

DAILY EXPRESS

Mark Hughes has told Chelsea they have 48 hours to fulfil his dream of Chelsea manager before he accepts an offer from Manchester City. Hughes would take the Chelsea job in a heartbeat but Roman Abramovich is aiming higher and will make a renewed effort to land first choice Carlo Ancelotti.

Also: Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United became even more unclear last
night after Real Madrid winger Robinho claimed he was being swapped for the
Portuguese star.

DAILY STAR

Sir Alex Ferguson warns that he may only have two more seasons left at Manchester United - and tips right-hand man Carlos Queiroz to replace him. Ferguson had previously talked of packing in at the end of the 2010/11 season but revealed he will stand down sooner rather than later.

Also: Nicolas Anelka stunned Chelsea by claiming his career has been all downhill since he left Arsenal in 1999. The France striker believes he never should have quit the Gunners, with whom he won the double, to sign for Real Madrid.

DAILY MIRROR

Sir Alex Ferguson revealed that the biggest regret of his Manchester United career was missing out on the chance to sign troubled England clown Paul Gascoigne. Ferguson claims that United's colony of Geordie ex-pats could have saved him from the his descent towards depression and psychiatric illness in London.

Also: Mark Hughes will try to bring David Bentley and Roque Santa Cruz with him when he leaves Blackburn to take over at Manchester City.

THE SUN

Andrew Strauss has warned England's stars not to split the dressing room over Twenty20 money. Strauss spoke publicly of the dangers posed by the megabucks heading towards some of their bank accounts.

Also: Manchester United are planning to hit Blackburn with a £15million bid for towering striker Roque Santa Cruz after Sir Alex Ferguson earmarked the Paraguay international as the club's main summer signing.