Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Liverpool's new owners plan showdown talks with striker Fernando Torres next week, with Manchester United and Barcelona interested in signing the Spaniard.
  (Daily Star)


• The Anfield club are considering making a move for Hapoel Tel Aviv striker Itay Shechter in January, although Tottenham, Everton and West Ham are also in the hunt.
  (Daily Mail)


• Aston Villa winger Ashley Young has called a dramatic halt to contract negotiations with the club.
  (The Sun)


• Young wants a buy-out clause in his new Aston Villa contract, with Spurs said to be interested in the England international.
  (The Mirror)


• Juventus are ready to rival Manchester City in the battle to sign Lazio defender Stefan Radu.
  (talkSport)


• Championship leaders QPR want to reinforce their squad with the loan capture of versatile Arsenal attacker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.
  (Daily Mail)


• Bolton boss Owen Coyle will open contract talks with Johan Elmander in the next few weeks, with the striker free to talk to other clubs from January.
  (The Sun)

• Former Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard is close to replacing Roy Hodgson as Liverpool's new boss.
  (caughtoffside)


• Blackburn are close to a takeover by VH Group, an Indian chicken company.
  (The Mirror)


• Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is a month ahead of schedule in his return from ankle surgery. Defoe was expected to be out until Christmas but he could now be back by the end of November - in time for their final two Champions League group games against Werder Bremen and FC Twente.
  (Daily Star)


• England's 2018 World Cup bid is set for a major boost when it is named the stand-out candidate to host the tournament by Fifa.
  (The Mirror)


• The Scottish Players Union are again on alert over the late payment of wages at Hearts.
  (Daily Record)

• Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has performed an amazing U-turn by telling Red Devils boss sir Alex Ferguson he does not want to quit Old Trafford.
  (The Mirror)


• United are exploring ways for Rooney to salvage his Old Trafford career.
  (Daily Express)


• Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez has called on former team-mate Rooney to follow in his footsteps by moving to Eastlands.
  (Daily Telegraph)


• An angry mob of balaclava-clad United fans gathered outside Rooney's Prestbury home on Thursday night, holding a banner urging the want-away striker not to join City.
  (The Sun)


• United full-back Patrice Evra believes Rooney should not play for the club again following his public declaration that they have not signed players who can make them competitive.
  (The Independent)


• Rooney has stunned Real Madrid by demanding to become the highest paid Galactico if he joins Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabeu.
  (Daily Mail)


• Chelsea have no intention in getting involved in a bidding war for Rooney, with Blues owner Roman Abramovich keen for the club to become self-sufficient and balance its books.
  (Daily Star)


• As uncertainty about Rooney's future drags on, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is planning a radical overhaul of his squad next summer with up to 10 players facing the axe.
  (The Times)


• Ferguson is looking to sign AC Milan youngster Alexandre Pato as a direct replacement for Rooney if the player leaves Old Trafford.
  (caughtoffside)


• Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is praying that Black Cats striker Darren Bent does not get dragged into a transfer merry-go-round which could be sparked by Rooney leaving Manchester United.
  (The Sun)

• West Brom manager Roberto di Matteo believes football management is like hay farming. "It is like when you are a farmer," said the Italian. "You want to bring as much hay into your stall as possible for a long winter. That's what we are trying to do."
  (The Sun)