Paper Round: Wenger ready to take England job, Allardyce remains defiant

The back pages of the nation's press are, of course, dominated by all things England. Arsene Wenger has dropped a hint that he'd be interested in the England job, according to the Daily Star. They reckon he's set to snap up the role after Gareth Southgate's interim reign ends - and will see out the Premier League season.

Paper Round's view: We searched this article for a hint, and couldn't find anything - unless they mean the comment from Wenger, made in June, when he said he wasn't sure what he'd do after his Arsenal contract ends next summer. Seriously, you think that's a hint? There's tenuous links, and then there's this. Wenger has said before that he believes national teams should select their managers based on nationality, and despite two decades in England, he wouldn't fit his self-imposed criteria for the England role.

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There is another interesting story right alongside that one on the back page of the Daily Star - Wayne Rooney is set for a showdown with England caretaker manager Gareth Southgate about what his future might be. He wants to know what Southgate's plans are for the qualifiers - and whether he'll get a place, let alone the skipper's armband.

Paper Round's view: If anyone in that England squad is nervous about his future, you'd expect it to be Rooney. The captain is in poor form but he must have been reassured by Allardyce's soothing words which practically guaranteed him any role he wanted in the team for the foreseeable future. Southgate might not be quite so ameliorative.

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The back page of the i declares that Sam Allardyce is insistent that he is not a quitter - and will be back in football very shortly. He has been defiant since the Telegraph broke their initial story, the fruits of their undercover reporting, and he apparently maintains a healthy dose of self-confidence.

Paper Round's view: To say you're not a quitter just after you've had to leave a job does seem a little like splitting hairs. Allardyce is, however, probably right that he'll be in a new job soon. Football is a very forgiving industry.

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Sam Allardyce has cleared his desk - if he ever really moved in - sorted out the details of his contract termination, and made his way to A Villa, reports the Daily Star on its front page. That's "a villa", mind, a nice place to go on holiday - not the A Villa to be found in the area of Birmingham 6.

Paper Round's view: We had to flag this story up simply for the sleight of hand, to be honest. That's a brilliantly deceptive headline. But surely - haven't both parties been through enough without linking their names in a marriage of disaster? Cruel, Daily Star - very cruel.