Paper Talk: Rooney’s future in doubt; Chelsea eye Roma man
Jose Mourinho has had strong words with Wayne Rooney, while Antonio Conte has lined up a long-term replacement for John Terry, according to today’s papers.
MOURINHO WARNS ROONEY
Jose Mourinho has told Wayne Rooney he will have to leave Manchester United if he wants regular first-team football.
Rooney, who turned 31 on Monday, has struggled for form in recent years and lost his place in United’s starting XI earlier this season. And according to The Sun, Red Devils boss Mourinho has made it clear to the England captain that he can only expect a bit-part role at Old Trafford from now on.
The report suggests United will not look to actively sign the player, who is only three goals short of Sir Bobby Charlton’s record haul for the club. However, with mooted interest from clubs in the USA and China, Rooney’s representatives could negotiate a pay-off from United as part of any release.
Rooney expected to lose his place in the number 10 role to Henrikh Mkhitaryan but, while the Armenian has barely featured, he has also fallen behind Paul Pogba and Juan Mata in the pecking order.
CONTE LINES UP TERRY REPLACEMENT
John Terry and Kurt Zouma may be close to returning to fitness for Chelsea, but Blues boss Antonio Conte still hopes to bolster his defence in January.
Chelsea signed David Luiz and Marcos Alonso on deadline day after missing out on Conte’s primary targets throughout the summer – namely Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.
The Italian is keen to sign a long-term replacement for Terry, who is out of contract at the end of the season, and according to the Daily Mail, is monitoring Roma’s Antonio Rudiger.
Conte is understood to be a huge admirer of Rudiger, who is rated at £35million. The 23-year-old has won 11 caps for Germany, but missed Euro 2016 due to injury.
AND THE REST
– Watford are prepared to cash in on Odion Ighalo in January amid interest from Serie A outfit Napoli (Daily Mirror)
– West Ham are among the clubs monitoring 19-year-old Morton forward Jal Quitongo (Daily Mail)
– The Hammers are also preparing a £1.5million move for 21-year-old Millwall right-back Mahlon Romeo (Daily Mirror)
– Christian Fuchs hopes to extend his stay at Leicester after initially planning to move to the MLS in 2018 (Daily Express)
– One-time England striker Francis Jeffers has returned to Everton as a youth coach (Daily Mail)
– Wolves boss Walter Zenga faces the sack if his side lose at Blackburn at the weekend (The Times)
– Steve Cotterill will hold talks with MK Dons this week as favourite to replace Karl Robinson (Daily Mail)