Update

Arsenal are weighing up an approach for Bayer Leverkusen and Germany star Florian Wirtz - Paper Talk

Plus: Barcelona are interested in Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran; Manchester United pulled out of £83.5m deal to sign Ansu Fati; Newcastle set to swoop for wonderkid

Thursday 26 September 2024 07:34, UK

The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday's newspapers...

DAILY MIRROR

Arsenal are the latest club who are said to be weighing up an approach for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz.

Chelsea's majority shareholder Clearlake Capital have poached a key executive from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who own Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Barcelona are reportedly eyeing up Aston Villa hotshot Jhon Duran following the striker's blistering start to the season.

Michael Oliver was spot on with his decision to send Leandro Trossard off at Manchester City, a Premier League panel have revealed.

Christian Eriksen slammed his Manchester United team-mates for not "wanting" victory as much as FC Twente.

DAILY MAIL

Matheus Nunes has insisted he can fill the void left in Manchester City's midfield following Rodri's long-term injury.

Manchester United reportedly made a €100m (£83.5m) offer for Barcelona starlet Ansu Fati back in the summer of 2020.

The EFL has issued an alert to clubs following a series of cyber attacks which have seen breaches at both Bristol City and Sheffield Wednesday in recent weeks.

Toni Kroos has revealed he gave David Moyes his word he would join Manchester United while sitting on his couch in 2014 - only for the move to collapse.

Jose Mourinho revealed he didn't attend his post-match press conference after Fenerbahce's defeat by arch-rivals Galatasaray because he was 'disrespected'.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Former Manchester United assistant manager Steve McClaren believes Erik ten Hag was right to stand up to Cristiano Ronaldo during their infamous public feud that led to the Portuguese superstar leaving the club.

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag responds to Cristiano Ronaldo's criticism about him as a manager where he suggested the he should not be saying that the club can't compete to win the Premier League

Premier League clubs are concerned that the legal bill for all the league's high-profile cases, including that against Manchester City, will run into multiple millions of pounds and will reduce the clubs' share of the central funds from the broadcast and commercial deals.

Eddie Hearn has said he would play Saudi Arabia's national anthem at every boxing event he promotes if the country bankrolling it asked him to.

THE SUN

Former Arsenal star Wojciech Szczesny is set to come out of retirement to make a shock move to Barcelona.

Newcastle are set to swoop for Georgian wonderkid Vakhtang Salia - a teen dubbed "the best in his generation".

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero was slapped with a two-game suspension by current club Boca Juniors and issued a grovelling apology after "losing his mind" with a fan.

Neymar has earned a fortune for each game he has played at Al Hilal, which has left club chiefs "fed up", according to reports.

Sao Paulo saw a PR stunt go terribly wrong when their blimp crashed into a row of houses in Brazil on Wednesday.

THE TIMES

The Premier League spent nearly £50m on legal costs last season - six times the amount it had budgeted for.

Tom Curry, the England flanker whose career was threatened by a serious hip injury, will scale back his training with Sale Sharks - something his club coach admits should have happened three years ago.

THE INDEPENDENT

Eddie Howe and Paul Mitchell have held talks in a fresh sign of their willingness to work together and move on from a summer of frustration at Newcastle.

THE ATHLETIC

Southampton recruitment analyst Jonathan Kaye is set to join Arsenal and work in the club's first team.

A group of around 60 Lazio fans were banned from attending Thursday's Europa League fixture against Dynamo Kyiv after having weapons confiscated by German police.

THE GUARDIAN

Half of Premier League clubs have advertised gambling on webpages aimed at, or featuring, U18s, prompting concern about a voluntary code of conduct drawn up with the help of the betting industry.

Seven of the 10 Premiership clubs are balance-sheet insolvent, according to an independent financial industry report which has prompted a stark warning that unless the sport embraces change it is "heading for a precipice".

The London Marathon raised a record £73.5m for charity, race organisers said, in what they described as the world's largest annual one-day fundraising event.

EVENING STANDARD

Pedro Neto says Chelsea's thriving competition for places means "no one can sleep", and admitted he still has work to do to reach the level that made him one of the Premier League's most exciting wingers at Wolves.

DAILY RECORD

Former QPR and Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth is keen to become the next Hearts manager.

Winger Oscar Cortes faces "several weeks" on the sidelines after a fresh injury blow.

Hibernian are confident of landing a full away allocation for Sunday's trip to face Rangers at Ibrox after making contact with the SPFL.

SCOTTISH SUN

Scott Brown has pulled out of the race to become St Johnstone's next manager.

Philippe Clement insists he is at Rangers to stay.