Former Manchester United and Everton manager David Moyes is reportedly set for a stunning return to the Premier League.
Moyes in line to take over at Aston Villa: The Sunday Express's back page splash screams the news - "MOYES SET FOR VILLA". The paper claims that the Real Sociedad boss "has turned down overtures from West Ham andSunderland to come back to the Premier League" but "if Villa part company with under-fire boss Tim Sherwood, then Moyes would be interested in holding talks over the job. Villa is a club with tradition and potential in Moyes’ eyes and, although he is enjoying his time in La Liga, the pull of the Premier League is still strong."
Paper Round's view: You probably already spotted the disconnect between the headline and the content with this story. The blaring confidence of the back page headline in 72-point type is rather different from the tone of the piece itself. It's hard to see how "would be interested in holding talks" got translated into "set for Villa", which suggests that the decision to axe Tim Sherwood has been made and that Moyes's appointment is a formality. But there you go - that's the alchemy of the back pages. For once, actually, the Daily Star is more honest: they carry the same story (both claim it's an 'Exclusive') but with the headline that "Moyes wants Villa job".
Moving on from all that, though? We can see the appeal of Villa to Moyes; a sleeping giant, not unlike Everton, where he could potentially build a very good side.
Wenger wants Aleksandr Kokorin: The Sun on Sunday reports that Arsene Wenger is keen on Aleksandr Kokorin and "is ready to make a £7million move for the Dynamo Moscow hitman in January. Wenger failed to land the Russian, 24, on loan before the September deadline. And he will look to bolster his attacking options in the new year if the Gunners are within reach of a are within reach of a first Premier League title in 12 years."
Paper Round's view: Don't let the £7m price tag fool you into thinking a really good player would have to cost more - Kokorin's contract runs out next summer, so Dynamo will have a good reason to cash in even at a cut price. And while they're having a good season Arsenal still don't look like title winners up front - particularly in the depth of their squad. Once Theo Walcott gets his usual season-ending injury Arsenal will need someone else.
Kokorin - From Official Website
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Rooney hits back at doubters: The Daily Mail's back page uses a fierce image of Wayne Rooney, inviting us to imagine the Manchester United striker bellowing "Stop doubting me" in an aggressive tone. " hit back at critics who have questioned his scoring record after grabbing his first away league goal in 11 months to help Manchester United to a 3-0 win at Everton," reads the paper's report, craftily shoehorning in the exact reason why those doubters probably had a point about the striker's recent record. "What matters is what my manager and team-mates think," boomed Rooney when quizzed about the end of his goal drought.
Paper Round's view: Ironic that Rooney should refer to "what my manager thinks" considering that before Saturday's match, and Rooney's goal, Louis van Gaal had said this about the player's future as a striker: "We'll have to see if he continues with that because Wayne can play in different positions. Maybe against Everton (he can score) but his average is not so good. So it's getting to the time that he changed that behaviour." Good on Rooney for scoring, of course, but he's got some way to go before he is considered among the top rank of Premier League strikers again.
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Beckham Jr to quit Arsenal academy: The Daily Mail claims that "Arsenal expect Romeo Beckham to follow his brother out of the club's academy. Sportmail exclusively revealed earlier this year that David Beckham's eldest son Brooklyn had left the club's Hale End academy. And Romeo is now poised to leave the Gunners' youth-set up."
Paper Round's view: It's not at all clear which, if any, of the young Beckhams will pursue football careers now. One thing is for sure: all three of the boys are probably desperate to just be left alone to try their luck, and succeed or fail on their own merits like any other wannabe footballer.
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Fellaini 'sent me photos of his tackle': We're not going to go into all the gory details here, but we wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't point out that a prominent member of arguably Britain's most famous football team isn't featured on the front page of a national newspaper today.
Full story here, if you really must. And there's also this nonsense in The Sun about an unnamed England player getting blackmailed over a supposed dodgy video.
Paper Round's view: They wouldn't be the Sunday papers without a few kiss and tell stories. But why is it always just after an international break that these things come out? Is that when footballers are at their naughtiest? Or is it that reporters have more time to let their imaginations run free?
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