The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday’s newspapers…
DAILY TELEGRAPH
Newcastle United are going to step up their interest in Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips and hope a loan deal can be agreed swiftly once the January transfer window opens. The midfielder is viewed as a top priority for Eddie Howe’s team.
The Glazer family will have pocketed more than £1.3bn from share sales and dividend payments at Manchester United once Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s deal for a 25 per cent stake in the club is formally completed.
World Athletics have promised not to “strangle innovation” after forming a special evaluation team to work with companies like Nike and Adidas whose new ‘super shoes’ have transformed endurance running.
THE TIMES
Ineos and the Glazer family have agreed to avoid criticising each other in public as part of the deal that is set to culminate in the billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Ineos chairman and chief executive, taking control of 25 per cent of Manchester United.
UEFA has demanded the European Court of Justice amends its press statement on the European Super League decision with senior figures believing the release was enhanced to make the ruling sound more titillating.
THE INDEPENDENT
Manchester United and the Glazer family will have to pay Sir Jim Ratcliffe up to $66m (£51.6m) if they terminate the agreement for him to take a minority share in the club.
Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol looks at why the Glazer family are happy to hand over football operations to INEOS
THE SUN
Conor Gallagher could be one of five players who are shown the exit door at Stamford Bridge in January.
Former Premier League star Salomon Rondon has allegedly given up a huge chunk of money in order to quit River Plate.
Nottingham Forest and Wales defender Neco Williams hopes Amazon Prime were watching his social media after expressing his displeasure at being labelled as English on graphics as he came on during their live broadcast of the win at Newcastle.
Seb Coe hopes a “warts and all” documentary about the world of athletics ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris next summer will provide the same boost as a similar series did for Formula One.
DAILY MAIL
UEFA has reportedly demanded the European Court of Justice amends its press statement on the European Super League decision as some within the organisation believe the ‘inaccurate’ release was drafted to make the ruling appear more riveting.
Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to make an opening offer for Manchester United defender Raphael Varane.
Manchester United’s Raphael Varane is reportedly a Bayern Munich target
Karim Benzema has appeared to delete his Instagram account which has a staggering 76 million followers.
Jesse Lingard has been offered to several clubs in France, but any move could reportedly be scuppered by Brexit rules.
Andre Onana’s bizarre feud with Cameroon legends Samuel Eto’o and current international head coach Rigobert Song is showing no sign of healing and there remain doubts whether he will return to international duty for AFCON even if selected in Song’s squad.
Liverpool’s pre-Christmas clash with Arsenal provided record-breaking viewership in the United States, with 2.28m people watching the game across NBC, streaming platform Peacock and Spanish-speaking outlet Telemundo.
John Terry has tipped 20-year-old defender Alfie Gilchrist to be the next academy star to impact the Chelsea first-team.
Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno will escape any punishment from the Football Association following his altercation with a ballboy during the defeat at Bournemouth.
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno apologised after a confrontation with a ball boy at Bournemouth during Fulham’s 3-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium
Guinea star Morlaye Sylla has been omitted from their AFCON squad in the aftermath of a row with team-mates and manager Kaba Diawara, who he accused of stealing a shirt given to him by Vinicius Jr after the nation played Brazil over the summer.
DAILY MIRROR
Former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso will not be doing his old club any favours as he has ruled out allowing Reds defensive target Piero Hincapie to leave Bayer Leverkusen in January.
Liverpool will not be pursuing a January move for Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson amid reports they wanted the US international to provide cover for injured pair Andrew Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas.
Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas was injured against Arsenal after colliding on the sideline with his own manager Jurgen Klopp
THE ATHLETIC
Everton are not expecting a busy transfer window as they continue to prioritise “financial prudence”.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hopes striker Erling Haaland will return next month from a “stress” injury in his foot.
RB Leipzig have confirmed the signing of midfielder Eljif Elmas from Napoli.
Barcelona captain and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas has undergone surgery on her knee, her club has confirmed.
DAILY EXPRESS
Manchester City are reportedly considering a move for Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich in the January transfer window.
SCOTTISH SUN
Harry Kewell is edging closer to being appointed as the new Yokohama F Marinos boss.
DAILY RECORD
Celtic full-back Greg Taylor says the first-team squad will get a massive boost when Reo Hatete and Liel Abada are able to return to action, which should happen soon.
