Paper Talk: Football transfer news, rumours and gossip, including Liverpool's interest in Fabian Ruiz

THE SUN

• Inter Milan want Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud to boost their striking options in January.
• Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to do battle over the signing of Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz in January.
• Mason Mount has an 'outside chance' of playing for Chelsea against Liverpool on Sunday after scans showed no significant damage to the ankle he injured against Valencia.
• Jack Clarke could be heading back to Tottenham after being frozen out of Marcelo Bielsa's plans since re-joining Leeds United on loan.

DAILY MIRROR

• Manchester United are turning their attentions to fresh terms for Jesse Lingard and Mason Greenwood after securing Victor Lindelof to a new contract on Wednesday.
• Russia star Alexander Kokorin returned to Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday, a day after being released from jail over hooliganism charge.
• Steven Gerrard has snapped back at former Liverpool team-mate Emile Heskey after comments on his managerial credentials.
• Paris Saint-Germain manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted Neymar 'did everything in his power' to leave the club over the summer.

THE GUARDIAN

• Chelsea have opened talks with in-form striker Tammy Abraham and young defender Fikayo Tomori over new contracts.
• England players and staff have told not to use their mobile phones on World Cup matchdays amid the Wales betting scandal that has rocked the tournament in Japan.
• The Football Association is examining claims that a promising deaf footballer was abused and goaded about his disability during an FA Youth Cup game.

DAILY MAIL

• Former Tottenham and Fulham midfielder Lewis Holtby is in talks over a move to Blackburn - he is a free agent after being released by Hamburg.
• The French League Cup will cease to exist after the 2019-20 season after authorities failed to secure a broadcast partner for France's second cup competition.
• QPR are set to make a move for free agent goalkeeper Heinz Lindner - an Austria international - who has been invited to the club to train by Mark Warburton.
• Bradford City have held takeover talks with two interested parties - but owner Stefan Rupp wants at least £10m.

DAILY RECORD

• Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has been included in Colombia's provisional squad for two friendlies next month after missing out on selection for their last two games.
• Hearts supremo Ann Budge has backed under-fire boss Craig Levein to turn the team's fortunes around.
• Liverpool defender Andy Robertson has been forced into deleting his Twitter account after being subjected to abuse.

REGIONAL PAPERS

• Ross Barkley has played down suggestions of a row with Willian and Tammy Abraham over Chelsea's penalty-taking duties and insisted he is ready to step up again if asked. (London Evening Standard)
• Bournemouth are set to offer reported Everton target, Ryan Fraser, a new deal in the hopes of keeping him on the south coast. (Bournemouth Echo)
• Manchester United fans want to see the club sign RB Salzburg striker Erling Haaland following his exceptional performance on his Champions League debut. (Manchester Evening News)
• Football icon Xavi has tipped Manchester City star Raheem Sterling to become the next best player in the world after Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. (Manchester Evening News)
• Former Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United forward Henrik Larsson could well be managing in League One with Southend having targeted the Swede as their new boss. (Newcastle Chronicle)
• Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has revealed that Aston Villa were interested in signing him this summer. (Birmingham Mail)

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