Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk

Paper Talk: Saturday's football transfer rumours and gossip from the national newspapers


A round-up of the latest football gossip from Saturday's newspapers.

DAILY MIRROR

  • Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp insists there was no viable alternative to Virgil van Dijk after he failed to sign the Southampton centre-half.
  • England goalkeeper Jack Butland says the Stoke fans would understand if he followed his ambition and moved to a bigger club.

THE SUN

  • Everton boss Ronald Koeman has told striker Wayne Rooney that he needs to step-up ahead of his return to Old Trafford.

DAILY MAIL

  • Arsene Wenger has challenged his Arsenal players to prove they don't have an inferiority complex by getting a result at Stamford Bridge against reigning Premier League champions Chelsea on Sunday.

DAILY STAR

  • Ronald Koeman tore into his 'scared' Everton players after they were beaten 3-0 by Atalanta in the Europa League on Thursday.
  • Jack Butland says that Joe Hart is 'fair game', and that playing for Stoke won't stop him becoming England No 1.

DAILY EXPRESS

  • Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino says Harry Kane's late winner against Aston Villa in 2014 helped to save his job.
  • Roy Hodgson says he doesn't think about England's infamous defeat to Iceland, his last game in charge of the national side.

THE TIMES

  • Sam Allardyce says that Roy Hodgson will be a success at Crystal Palace and keep them in the Premier League.

THE GUARDIAN

  • The FA have been shown new text messages that may lead to a fresh inquiry into Mark Sampson's conduct as England Women's manager.
  • Tottenham's Harry Kane is already one of the best strikers in the world, according to Mauricio Pochettino.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

  • Jose Mourinho says Wayne Rooney had it easy when he was at Manchester United, as it wasn't as hard to score Premier League goals when he signed.
  • Mauricio Pochettino says Spurs midfielder Dele Alli must focus on his football and not the agents who are battling to secure his signature.