Paper Round: Carlo Ancelotti wants to replace Arsene Wenger at Arsenal

Carlo Ancelotti, recently sacked by Bayern Munich after a poor start to the season, will remain a free agent for the rest of the year... unless one team comes calling. Ancelotti would be willing to take over from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, but would not go for the AC Milan job with which he has been linked. Ancelotti spent two years in London when he managed Chelsea, before taking the PSG and Real Madrid jobs.

Paper Round's view: It is understandable why Ancelotti would want the Arsenal move. He would be able to enjoy the delights of London again, and manage in one of the best (and best-paying) leagues in Europe. But Ancelotti is not a manager who rebuilds and transforms teams, he simply coasts. That is a valuable skill, such as at potentially combustible clubs like Real, but it isn't what Arsenal need to rediscover their ruthless edge.

Manchester United and Liverpool have both identified Yusuf Yazici as a summer transfer target after his emergence in Turkey. The 20-year-old Trabzonspor forward scored six goals and made 10 assists last season, and was linked with a move to Everton and the Reds, but no move materialised. Now, Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho is believed to be keen on a transfer and will offer £12m for the striker.

Paper Round's view: United will almost certainly need to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the end of the season. Ibrahimovic is set for a December comeback, but it would be unlikely if he felt able to continue for a third season in the Premier League, given his obvious desire to spend at least some time in the US, and perhaps Sweden, before he retires. With Romelu Lukaku's form, United would be able to go for a less experienced option like Yazici.

Eden Hazard will sign a new, £300,000-a-week deal at Chelsea after recovering from his troublesome ankle injury. Hazard has long been linked with a move to Real Madrid but signing a new deal would show Real that Chelsea are not interested in seeing him go, and also make Hazard the best paid player in the league, beating Manchester United Paul Pogba's £290,000 weekly wage.

Paper Round's view: Hazard is Chelsea's most important and dangerous player, especially now Alvaro Morata is suffering from a hamstring injury, and tying him down to a new deal makes sense. £300,000 is now an affordable sum for the biggest English clubs, however lofty, and Hazard is a remarkable talent. Despite all this, Philippe Coutinho showed that a new contract doesn't stop a player trying to force a move when he wants to leave...

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez was quizzed about the chances of a return to Liverpool as a boss, with Jurgen Klopp under pressure following a difficult start to the new season. Klopp is not thought to be under great pressure yet, but Benitez has regularly been linked with a return to the job and remains a popular figure in the city. However, Benitez said: "I don’t want to say (I will go back). I am really pleased here. I am happy here. And I wish Jurgen Klopp a lot of success. But in the future, I want to be successful here."

Paper Round's view: Benitez cannot claim that he wants to replace Klopp, liked by many Liverpool fans still, while still Newcastle manager. He cannot give Mike Ashley a reason to get rid of him on his own terms. Benitez has talents as a manager, but after failing at Real he needs to continuing impressing at Newcastle in order to rebuild his reputation.