Paper Talk: Vieira for Sunderland; Thiago to City

Mark Holmes
Patrick Vieira: Now the manager of NYCFC

Patrick Vieira: Now the manager of NYCFC

Patrick Vieira for Sunderland manager, Thiago Alcantara to Manchester City, and a 17-year-old to Tottenham are among Monday’s newspaper rumours.

SUNDERLAND EYE VIEIRA AS ADVOCAAT REPLACEMENT

Sunderland will approach Patrick Vieira about taking over at the Stadium of Light if Dick Advocaat quits, claims the Daily Mirror.

Vieira, along with with Burnley boss Sean Dyche, was apparently on a shortlist for the job in the summer before Advocaat decided to stay on, but there are already question marks over the Dutchman’s immediate future.

City want to keep Vieira, who is their Elite Development squad manager, but also acknowledge the Frenchman is keen to get into senior management and feared they would lose him in the summer when Newcastle also expressed an interest.

Former Magpies boss Sam Allardyce is likely to be another contender for Sunderland if Advocaat leaves, the Mirror adds.

MAN CITY CONSIDER THIAGO MOVE

Manchester City are weighing up a move for Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara, according to the Daily Star online.

Goal were the first to report City’s apparent interest in Thiago, claiming on Friday that they saw him as potential alternative to their top midfield target, Juventus’ Paul Pogba, and now the Star has got on board with the rumour.

City are said to have sent scouts to watch Thiago in action on two occasions already this season and will continue to keep tabs on a player who has suffered a frustrating time with injuries since moving from Barcelona two years ago.

TOP-FLIGHT TRIO TRACK WALSALL STRIKER

Stoke, West Brom and Bournemouth are tracking Walsall striker Tom Bradshaw, according to the Daily Mirror.

Bradshaw has scored eight goals for the League One Saddlers already this season, but scouts from the Premier League trio were left disappointed after visiting the Bescot Stadium to watch him in action in the Capital One Cup tie against Chelsea last week only for the 23-year-old to miss out through injury.

Bradshaw is under contract until the end of next season and is apparently valued by Walsall at £750,000.

AND THE REST

  • West Brom manager Tony Pulis is ready to make a £3.5million offer for 19-year-old Birmingham City winger Demarai Gray in January (Daily Telegraph/Daily Mail)
  • Jurgen Klopp would demand the end of Liverpool’s transfer committee if he is to succeed Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool manager (Daily Mail)
  • Tottenham are hopeful of signing 17-year-old Brondby forward Armend Aslani, who would cost an initial £345,000 (Daily Mail)