HEADLINES
Southgate hints new England contract is close
Kounde admits he was affected by failed Chelsea move
Dean Smith agrees deal to take over as new Norwich manager
Rudiger ‘focused’ on Chelsea despite contract uncertainty
Ten Hag addresses rumours of potential Premier League switch
Barcelona considering Christian Pulisic loan bid
Jorginho admits he was planning to join Man City before Chelsea switch
World Cup qualifiers: Mbappé hits four while Belgium book spot
Ramsey shines for Wales against Belarus as Gareth Bale reaches century
Conor Gallagher called up to England squad
Man Utd put off Antonio Conte by ‘unacceptable’ demands
Mauricio Pochettino open to Premier League return
Southgate reveals England have tracked Conor Gallagher ‘for a long time’
PORTUGUESE PAPERS
Bernardo Silva has issued an apology to his country after Portugal threw away a one-goal lead to lose 2-1 to Serbia and drop into the World Cup qualifying play-offs. Ronaldo and Co now have to wait to seal their place in Qatar, with qualifiers next year to determine whether the 36-year-old Manchester United forward will feature at the winter World Cup.
Serbia hero Aleksandar Mitrovic admitted his team were the better side against Portugal as they sealed qualification to the FIFA World Cup at Cristiano Ronaldo and Co’s expense.
SPANISH PAPERS
Luis Enrique post-match: “To be honest, a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after the win over Sweden. I felt a lot more pressure in these games than in the European Championship or Nations League.”
Luis Enrique: “Gavi is a guy who lives in his own world. At 17 years old, he was born to play football.”
Gavi’s father to MARCA: “He [Gavi] doesn’t get nervous. He enjoys football and it’s his passion.”
Jordi Alba: “I trust Xavi a lot, he will help us a lot and I can’t wait to be at his command.”
There will be a meeting at Barcelona this week to study the feasibility of signing Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, who remains a target for the club, according to Matte Moretto.
Veteran Spain and Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has hinted his intention to play on for the national side beyond 2022.
Barcelona will train at the Camp Nou ahead of this weekend’s derby clash with neighbours Espanyol.
Jules Koundé on collapsed Chelsea move: “Did it affect me? Yes, a little bit, but now I’ve dealt with it.”
Kylian Mbappé will sign the pre-contract with Real Madrid in approximately two months and will be presented at the Bernabéu in July.
Besiktas president Ahmet Nur Cebi has confirmed that he is planning to try and sign on-loan Barcelona midfielder Miralem Pjanic at the end of the season.
Atletico Madrid fans have called on boss Diego Simeone to sign defensive reinforcements in January.
FRENCH PAPERS
Kylian Mbappé is the first France player to score four goals in a game since Just Fontaine, against West Germany at the 1958 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé on being the first France player to score 4 in a game since Just Fontaine in 1958: “Maybe there’s a young man who’s watching me on TV now and who’ll come along and beat that record.”
Kylian Mbappé’s post-Kazakhstan interview with Téléfoot: “I think what happened to me this summer has shaped me.”
Thierry Henry praises fellow forward Kylian Mbappé: “Mbappé is a forward who can play across the attack. He can’t be pigeonholed. I have a hard time understanding why he was criticised so much in France.”
A group of France supporters were last night prevented by security from unfurling a banner in protest at FIFA’s plans for a World Cup every two years.
Zinédine Zidane reveals Bernard Tapie wanted to sign him for Marseille in the 90s, and expresses regrets at never playing for his home town club.
GERMAN PAPERS
The German national team have won their last seven matches in a row, their joint-longest run this century (also seven in 2017), last having a longer winning run in 1979 and 1980, winning 12 in a row.
Kingsley Coman advised Dayot Upamecano to join Bayern Munich: “I’m thankful to King for his advice. For me, it would be great if more French people came to Bayern.”
Robert Lewandowski will be given a rest and will not take part in Monday’s game against Hungary. The decision has been made after consultation between the player and the coach Paulo Sousa. Poland have already secured their spot in the playoffs.
ITALIAN PAPERS
Leonardo Bonucci insists Jorginho will remain the first-choice Italy penalty taker against Northern Ireland on Monday night, but it’s possible they ‘subconsciously lost’ some of their hunger and determination after winning EURO 2020.
Roberto Mancini confirmed Sandro Tonali could start for Italy against Northern Ireland on Monday, but they must ‘avoid the same level of anxiety’ that cost them with Switzerland.
Maurizio Sarri must cope without Ciro Immobile when Lazio face Juventus on Saturday and could give Pedro a chance to replace the centre-forward.
Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot reassures he’s ‘happy in Turin’ and believes he has a future at the Bianconeri.
Inter defender Stefan de Vrij has now left the Dutch training camp after picking up an injury against Montenegro.
Serie A fans will have to wait a while longer before stadiums are open at 100 percent capacity, as the Minister for Health warns they have ‘no plans’ to open up more amid rising COVID-19 rates
Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan insists he can ‘play for another five or six years’ and will return to Dortmund one day.
Lazio striker Ciro Immobile has reportedly sustained a low-level lesion to his calf, so will miss Juventus and remains in doubt against Napoli.
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana has declined a last minute offer from Arsenal and he is now set to join Inter Milan.
BRITISH EXPRESS
MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly asked the Manchester United hierarchy to install Zinedine Zidane as their new manager in 2022.
Brendan Rodgers has been spotted house hunting Cheshire. Fuelling speculation he’s about to replace Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as Man United manager.
DAILY MAIL
Barcelona manager Xavi reportedly wants to sign Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah as he aims to rebuild his team.
Kylian Mbappe has revealed that he could leave Paris Saint-Germain next summer as the French superstar edges towards a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Erik ten Hag has committed his future to Ajax for the foreseeable future following speculation linking him with potential jobs at Manchester United and Newcastle.
Barcelona manager Xavi is plotting a transfer move for Chelsea stars Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi, according to reports in Spain.
Newcastle surprisingly have one of the most sustainable squads in all of Europe’s top five leagues, joining powerhouses Manchester City and Liverpool in the rankings, according to a new study.
THE SUN
Liverpool are holding their breath over Sadio Mane’s fitness after the star picked up a knock playing for Senegal against Togo.
Arsenal could loan out Folarin Balogun with the 20-year-old in need of some match experience.
Dean Smith is to be confirmed as manager of Norwich City after declaring he was ready to take on the challenge of keeping them in the Premier League.
DAILY MIRROR
Manchester United hoped Zinedine Zidane’s close relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane could persuade him to join the club.
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale has been slammed by the Spanish press after making his 100th senior international appearance for Wales on Saturday.
LIVERPOOL ECHO
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has said that he and his teammates should be aiming to win all four major trophies available to them this season.
Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane will be assessed by Liverpool over the next 48 hours as the Reds wait to discover the extent of their injuries, which could leave the pair as doubts for next weekend’s clash with Arsenal.
FOOTBALL LONDON
Jules Kounde has admitted that he was affected by his proposed move to Chelsea falling through in the summer.
Chelsea are monitoring Napoli and Italy striker Lorenzo Insigne.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho has confessed that he wasn’t initially keen on moving to Stamford Bridge and favoured a move to Manchester City instead.
