The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday’s newspapers…

DAILY MIRROR

Bukayo Saka is hoping to be fit to face Liverpool in Sunday’s title showdown. The Arsenal winger is battling to be ready for this weekend as he hopes to return to full training which would give Arsenal a major boost amid the club’s current injury crisis.

Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has swapped keeping clean sheets for bank sheets. Lindegaard has revealed he has taken up a position with global investment bank UBS.

Chelsea director Jonathan Goldstein and the Glazers are among the prospective bidders who are eyeing up one of the eight teams in the Hundred.

Enzo Maresca admits it’s “a shame” that Chelsea academy product Josh Acheampong has been frozen out due to a contract dispute.

THE GUARDIAN

Former Brighton manager ­Graham Potter – who held talks with Crystal Palace earlier this year about replacing Roy Hodgson – David Moyes and Gareth Southgate could be targets if Oliver Glasner is sacked.

The government is preparing to give the independent regulator powers to prevent Premier League clubs from selling their stadiums to related or third-party companies.

Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s red-ball coach, has described his role as “matchday strategist”, acknowledging his reduced remit since a reorganisation one game into the series against England stripped him of his influence over team selection.

THE INDEPENDENT

Azerbaijan wants to host the 2027 Champions League final after it was stripped from Milan’s San Siro.

Premier League club executives are seeking more answers from England’s top division after leaked WhatsApp messages suggest that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman controlled the October 2021 takeover of Newcastle United, which would directly contradict the so-called “legally binding assurances” that there is separation between the Public Investment Fund and the Saudi state.

THE SUN

Panathinaikos want to land a winners’ medal for George Baldock as they prepare for their first home game since his shock death. Manager Diego Alonso admitted the club and squad will play Chelsea on Thursday, still in a state of mourning, but teammate Facundo Pellistri says they are determined to win silverware as he watches “from the skies”.

Shakhtar Donetsk general director Sergiy Palkin has slammed Chelsea for not knowing how to use “Ferrari” Mykhailo Mudryk.

Old pals Frankie Dettori and John Gosden are set for a shock reunion at the Breeders’ Cup.

Manchester United have suffered a blow as Mason Mount has had another injury setback.

Chelsea have enquired about Getafe sensation Christantus Uche ahead of the January transfer window, reports suggest.

DAILY MAIL

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing two Napoli stars – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Alessandro Buongiorno – after sending their scouts to watch the Serie A side in action.

Joao Felix feels it’s only a ‘matter of time’ until he is starring for Chelsea, even though he is competing with Cole Palmer for the No 10 position in the Premier League.

Christian Eriksen has cast doubt on his Manchester United future, conceding he will have no control on whether he stays at Old Trafford beyond this season.

Graham Potter has branded Thomas Tuchel a ‘great appointment’ as Three Lions head coach, while remaining coy on whether he was interviewed for the role.

Real Madrid will take on La Liga rivals Barcelona without Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo on Saturday night after being handed a double injury setback.

THE ATHLETIC

Pep Guardiola says Jack Grealish is set to be sidelined for at least a week while Manchester City will be without Jeremy Doku for “a little bit longer”.

Novak Djokovic will not defend his title at the Paris Masters 1000, which begins on October 28 in the French capital.

THE TIMES

Henry Slade will leave the England camp to play for Exeter Chiefs this Sunday, in an attempt to prove his fitness to face the All Blacks the following weekend.

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Danny Care, the Harlequins scrum-half, has claimed he witnessed players coming back on to the field in the Gallagher Premiership this season “when they maybe shouldn’t” following big hits and collisions.

The England and Wales Cricket Board will train hundreds of secondary school teachers to coach cricket as part of a £3.5m investment designed to arrest the decline of the game in the state sector.

DAILY RECORD

Philippe Clement has received an injury boost with Ridvan Yilmaz returning to Rangers training.