Plus: Romelu Lukaku has lifted the lid on his summer after falling out with Inter Milan and being banished by Chelsea; Antonio Conte has spoken of a potential return to football amid speculation linking him with Napoli; Trevoh Chalobah is edging towards a January exit from Chelsea
Thursday 12 October 2023 07:55, UK
All the top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday's newspapers...
THE SUN
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has a release clause in his contract that only three clubs can activate, according to reports - Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Lionel Messi has made his decision over a winter transfer, with the Argentine fully focused on Inter Miami and Argentina.
Saudi Arabia's smooth procession to being awarded the 2034 World Cup could be hit by an Australian-led roadblock.
Manchester United fans proclaimed "we're back"... after Erik ten Hag's side beat Barnsley 3-0 in a secret friendly.
DAILY MAIL
Romelu Lukaku has lifted the lid on his nightmare summer after falling out with Inter Milan and being banished by Chelsea before snubbing Saudi Arabia to join Roma, declaring: "There were moments when I felt like I could explode."
James Maddison has admitted the latest international break has come at an "annoying time" with Tottenham having moved to the top of the Premier League after a fine start to the campaign.
Previously unseen footage has emerged of Samir Nasri looking visibly shaken in the aftermath of being confronted by an Arsenal fan during Sunday's game against Manchester City.
Marcus Smith is primed to start at full-back as England captain Owen Farrell returns to the No 10 shirt for the World Cup quarter-final against Fiji with Steve Borthwick set to drop George Ford.
Eddie Hearn has agreed a deal for Conor Benn to fight Chris Eubank Jr in the Middle East on December 23 in the event that Benn is not cleared to box in Britain.
Conor McGregor took another step towards returning to UFC by re-entering the US Anti-Doping Agency's (USADA) testing program.
YouTuber Ryan Taylor has reportedly been arrested, forcing his rematch against fellow influencer Swarmz on the undercard of KSI's clash with Tommy Fury on Saturday to be cancelled.
DAILY MIRROR
Xabi Alonso will be allowed to leave Bayer Leverkusen next summer if another club comes calling - putting Liverpool on red alert.
Antonio Conte has spoken of a potential return to football amid speculation linking him as the next Napoli boss.
Muslim and Arab players across football, cricket and rugby have held a summit meeting over the Israel-Hamas war.
Rasmus Hojlund has put his full backing behind Marcus Rashford, despite his Manchester United team-mate's dreadful start to the season.
DAILY TELEGRAPH
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham says the governing body is in favour of live broadcasting video assistant referee conversations to give fans clarity over decisions, but has received opposition from referees.
The Football Association has been told by the Government it would be right to show support for victims of the terror attacks in Israel amid talks over lighting up the Wembley arch in the colours of the country's flag.
THE GUARDIAN
The FA will announce plans on Thursday to mark the recent atrocities in Israel at the friendly match between England and Australia, after leading Jewish figures within the game urged them to act.
Wayne Rooney said he plans to "elevate Birmingham City to the next level" after being appointed the Championship club's new manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract.
Sport England, which invests more than £300m of public money every year, intends to ask sports to do far more to fight the climate crisis as a condition of receiving funding.
THE TIMES
Opposition from referees is the biggest obstacle to the discussions between VARs and match officials being broadcast live - but football's lawmakers are expected to look at the issue again, the FA's chief executive Mark Bullingham has said.
The Australian Open is attempting to transform the grand-slam tennis viewing experience by introducing a new self-styled "party court" at next year's tournament.
Fiji's Sam Matavesi is expected to face England despite father's death.
DAILY EXPRESS
Chelsea outcast Trevoh Chalobah is edging towards a January exit from Stamford Bridge, having failed to play a single competitive minute up to this point in the season. And the Blues could also bid farewell to Malang Sarr and Marc Cucurella.
West Ham first-team coach Kevin Nolan has offered Eden Hazard the opportunity to have a trial at the London side, despite the winger announcing his retirement on Tuesday.
Manchester United have identified two 'perfect' defenders for Erik ten Hag to sign in advance of next season, according to reports in Portugal.
Plans released by golf icon Tiger Woods to develop a new sports bar at St Andrews have left local residents furious.
DAILY RECORD
Steve Clarke says Scotland do not want favours in their Euro 2024 pursuit as he tells his stars "let's do it ourselves".
Celtic are reportedly keen on landing Gwangju FC's Ho-Yeon Jung in January as the Scottish champions revisit the Korean market.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has warned Scotland they will face a better and stronger side than they beat at Hampden in March.
SCOTTISH SUN
As talks continue over Michael Beale's successor, Rangers' search for their 19th permanent manager is still ongoing, with detailed behind-the-scenes discussions now taking place - but the club will not be rushed into naming a new boss.
Rangers job contender Kevin Muscat has left his current club's fans 'concerned' he could be about to move on. The Australian took charge of Yokohama F. Marinos in their 1-0 win over Urawa Red Diamonds on Wednesday, but supporters have been left fearing he was saying goodbye in the aftermath.
