The top stories and transfer rumours from Friday’s newspapers…
THE INDEPENDENT
Sir Jim Ratcliffe requested Manchester United’s football hierarchy put forward forensic cases for all potential scenarios on Erik ten Hag’s future, to fortify the club’s new approach as they met in London on Tuesday.
DAILY EXPRESS
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is on the brink of leaving Juventus, chief executive Maurizio Scanavino has confirmed.
Chelsea could reportedly allow Mykhaylo Mudryk to leave on loan in January as the winger bids to rekindle his form.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reportedly rejected the chance to enter into talks to become the new Denmark manager as he is said to already be in negotiations over the role of head coach at a ‘big club’.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
The Premier League’s civil war will enter a new phase over the next month when Manchester City are expected to receive legal notices from rival clubs that reserve their rights to seek damages.
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Sky Sports News chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol explains why Manchester City and the Premier League are claiming victory in their legal battle over commercial rules
Gareth Southgate has effectively ruled himself out of the running for the Manchester United job by revealing he will not return to management for at least the next year.
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Former England manager Gareth Southgate says he is in no rush to move back into management but does not rule an eventual role in club football
Aaron Connolly, the Republic of Ireland and Sunderland forward, has revealed his struggles with alcohol addiction after spending a month in a treatment centre this summer.
Emma Raducanu has hit back at recent suggestions that one of her sponsors took back the car it gifted her.
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Paul Merson thinks Erik ten Hag will stay at Manchester United but questioned the recruitment at the club and says someone like Gary Neville should be brought in to help
THE SUN
Wolves are tracking a man who is being dubbed “a modern day Sir Alex Ferguson” – Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin.
THE GUARDIAN
The Reading owner Dai Yongge’s repeated attempts to sell the club are being jeopardised by his failure to repay previously undisclosed debts of more than £55m to a state-backed Chinese bank.
DAILY MAIL
Former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has struck a defiant tone about his smoking habit, saying “it’s nobody else’s business” but his own.
Wojciech Szczesny has come out of retirement to sign for Barcelona
Alvaro Morata has admitted “there came a time when I couldn’t lace up my boots” as he opened up on his battle with depression in recent years.
Newcastle are set to be without Kieran Trippier for at least a few weeks.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp reportedly agreed to his shock move to join Red Bull in a meeting two years ago.
Gallagher Premiership bosses are set to follow football’s lead and introduce designated away sections for fans at English club rugby matches.
DAILY MIRROR
Everton skipper James Tarkowski admits he would have struggled to cope with all the pressure at Goodison Park if he was younger.
James Tarkowski is a regular in Everton’s defence
Paul Pogba could be handed a career lifeline by Marseille if he leaves Juventus after his drugs ban was reduced on appeal.
Former Real Madrid star Antonio Cassano has revealed that Cristiano Ronaldo sent him a voice note and his honours list after the Italian ‘disrespected’ the superstar.
THE ATHLETIC
Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is in talks to buy Portuguese club Moreirense.
Trent Alexander-Arnold says he does not want to be remembered as “the player who only won trophies when he was young”.
The family of two Valencia fans who were detained in Singapore after protesting against Peter Lim’s ownership say they are now set to return to Spain.
Atletico Madrid have appealed the partial stadium closure imposed upon them for the crowd trouble at last month’s derby against Real Madrid.
DAILY RECORD
Luckless Nathan Patterson is reportedly set for an imminent return to Everton’s first team as he brings an end to his injury nightmare.
New St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari is running the rule over Bozo Mikulic.
Brendan Rodgers insists the door is still open for Luis Palma to make an impact at Parkhead.
Hearts are closing in on the appointment of their new manager – with just two candidates now in the running.
Hearts chief Andrew McKinlay insists he’d happily reopen contract talks with Lawrence Shankland – but warned he’ll never smash the club’s wage structure to keep the skipper.
SCOTTISH SUN
Celtic are set to bring in former Exeter City boss Paul Tisdale to revamp the club’s football operations.
Kenny McLean has broken his silence on how he brushed off summer speculation linking him with a move to Rangers.