Isco to Arsenal FC? Man Utd revolt? Chelsea FC target to sign new deal? Thursday’s back pages

The top stories making Thursday’s back pages in the UK…

The Sun: Louis van Gaal has had to handle a player revolt with Manchester United’s stars fed up with his training.

Also: West Brom have piled more ridicule on Tottenham for their clumsy attempts to land Saido Berahino on deadline day.

And: Chris Smalling’s first task when he rejoined training with Manchester United was to get Wayne Rooney’s autograph.

Daily Mirror: Record-breaking Wayne Rooney has been hailed as one of the greatest players of his generation by Lionel Messi.

Also: Arsenal’s Invincibles team were within days of not being paid because of a cash crisis involving the club’s move to the Emirates.

Daily Star: Eden Hazard claims Chelsea are stuck in a rut because everyone is out to get them.

Also: Graeme Souness reckons new signing Christian Benteke will be key to Liverpool’s success this season.

And: Jermain Defoe’s hopes of becoming the central figure in Dick Advocaat’s new-look Sunderland side have been dashed.

Daily Mail: John Stones will effectively seek a £38million release clause when talks with Everton over a new contract get underway.

Also: Louis van Gaal will wait until his final training session before deciding whether to reinstate David de Gea for Manchester United’s clash with Liverpool.

And: Owen Hargreaves has warned Kevin De Bruyne that he does not stand a chance of taking the No 10 spot from David Silva, but believes he will be wasted out wide for Manchester City.

Daily Express: Arsenal and Manchester City are ready to battle it out to sign Isco from Real Madrid, according to reports in Spain.

Also: Manchester United could be heading for crisis after a host of stars confronted manager Louis van Gaal over his training methods, according to reports.

And: John Stones will push for a £38million release clause when he begins talks with Everton over a new contract, according to reports.

Metro: Liverpool flop Mario Balotelli looks a changed man in his second spell at AC Milan, according to club CEO Adriano Galliani.

Also: Manchester United may have the new Dimitar Berbatov in their ranks in the form of youngster Josh Doughty – according to the teenager’s national team manager.

And: Steven Gerrard will not be making a return to Liverpool when the transfer window opens, according MLS commissioner Don Garber.

Daily Telegraph: Lucas Leiva, the Liverpool midfielder, has admitted he thought his Anfield career was over before regaining his place before the transfer window closed.

Also: Steven Gerrard is not expected to return to Liverpool on loan in January, the MLS Commissioner Don Garber has stated.

The Times: Louis van Gaal admitted last night that the projected £58.8 million fee paid by Manchester United for Anthony Martial was “ridiculous”, but claimed that the teenage France striker had been signed with the club’s next manager firmly in mind.

Also: A Premier League coach was scouting a Manchester United match recently, trying to work out what it was about Louis van Gaal’s team that did not seem right. He thought about the formation, pondered the tactics, considered the ponderous passing — but then realised that the answer was nothing technical. The problem was that United’s players did not look like they were enjoying themselves.

And: A delegation of senior Manchester United players has confronted Louis van Gaal with concerns over his rigid training. Unhappy at what they see as stifling methods, the players asked the manager to be allowed to express themselves more freely.

The Guardian: Wayne Rooney has called for Harry Kane to be granted time to develop at his own pace but admits the Tottenham Hotspur striker’s emergence, along with that of England’s other bright young things, has ensured he trains every day as if his place in the national team “is on the line”.

Also: The 80 teams in this season’s Champions League and Europa League have agreed to donate €1 per ticket from their first home games to help the refugee crisis.

The Independent: The Football Association’s new chief executive has said England is perceived as arrogant within the global game, with a national team which is not admired, and should not play the role of “helpless victim” because of the lack of homegrown players in the Premier League.

Also: The Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish is set to choose England as his senior international side before the final round of Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania next month.