Today’s fluff comes sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines

Liverpool like the look of Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and are trying to hijack the winger’s proposed move to Paris St-Germain, with their offer potentially helped by the Italian club’s apparent interest in Anfield benchwarmer Federico Chiesa, though the Georgian “also features on the list of potential targets for teams like Chelsea”, claim the Athletic, who also add, less promisingly, that “Liverpool are not specifically chasing a player of Kvaratskhelia’s profile”. On his way to Napoli meanwhile is Bournemouth’s Philip Billing, initially on loan but with a view to the deal becoming permanent for £9m come the summer. On his way to Bournemouth meanwhile is the 29-year-old Paraguay striker Alex Arce, who is apparently wanted on loan, again with the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season, from the Ecuadorian champions Liga Deportiva Universitaria.

Manchester City are ready to bid £25m for the 18-year-old (until Sunday) Palmeiras centre-back and Guardian Next Generation 2023 pick Vitor Reis, say the Times, and “are convinced that he is ready for first-team football straight away”. But the Brazilian side want £33m, and to keep him until June’s Club World Cup. “The 6ft 1in Reis is strong in the air, a good passer of the ball, and has impressive leadership skills despite his age,” the Times add. In what looks set to be a busy month for the nation’s most creative accountancy team City are also negotiating for the £25m-rated Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov and trying to lower the £65m asking price for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush.