The problem with Manchester City being so much better at football than anyone else in England is that they are also much richer than everyone else in England, and therefore the gulf they have created is only likely to get wider.

In the past, teams with 11-point leads at the top of the table by Christmas might have kicked back in January, but not this one. Today’s papers are filled with stories about a new batch of City transfer targets.

Alexis Sanchez and Virgil van Dijk you probably already know about, but we can also add to that list Sergio Busquets and Leonardo Bonucci.

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The Star reports that Pep Guardiola is set to make a “shock £50m move” for Barcelona midfielder Busquets, who he gave his debut at the Nou Camp a decade ago.

Almost 500 games later, Busquets has reportedly been identified by Guardiola as an “ideal replacement for Yaya Toure”, who does actually still play for City even though no one has seen him at the Etihad for a while.

As for Bonucci, the centre-back is apparently regretting his summer move from perennial Italian champions Juventus to Serie A strugglers AC Milan. Winning six scudettos in a row has not prepared him very well for a mid-table scrap, unsurprisingly.

But he can find himself back at the top of the table again by moving to City, who Gazzetta dello Sport says are “monitoring” his situation.

Pulisic on Mourinho shortlist

All of which makes Manchester United’s task of catching their rivals looks even more daunting, but they could reportedly start by targeting Christian Pulisic.

The Mail claims the Red Devils are “eyeing” Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old American winger, who is regarded as one of the best young players in the world.

United boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly desperate to sign a new attacking player, and Pulisic has made his way onto a shortlist also featuring Mesut Ozil, Willian, Malcom and Gareth Bale. An added reason to sign Pulisic is that it would annoy Liverpool, who tried and failed to buy him last year.

Pulisic should under no circumstances be confused with his nearly-namesake Tony Pulis, whose inevitable move to Swansea is still being delayed by the Welsh club flirting with various exotic yet completely unsuitable targets.

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The Express says the Swans want recently sacked Ajax coach Dennis Bergkamp to be their new manager, while the Times says they are interested in Crystal Palace fiasco Frank de Boer. Come on guys, no one enjoys appointing Pulis but you have no option.

Meanwhile, Everton boss Sam Allardyce wants to sign some familiar centre-backs, including his £20m-rated former West Ham and Palace stopper James Tomkins (Sun) and his £10m-rated ex-Sunderland rock Lamine Kone (Mirror).

Elsewhere, Chelsea will make Thibaut Courtois the highest paid goalkeeper in the world to keep him at Stamford Bridge (Telegraph), West Ham are preparing a £20m bid for Swansea centre-back Alfie Mawson (Guardian) and Nice forward Mario Balotelli says he wants to move back to a “big club” and would sign for Man City “for free” (Mirror). Don’t think they’d want to pay that much for you, Mario.