The top stories and transfer rumours from Sunday’s newspapers…

DAILY STAR ON SUNDAY

Juventus are interested in bringing in Joshua Zirkzee on loan, just six months after he was brought to Old Trafford by Erik ten Hag, according to reports in Italy.

MAIL ON SUNDAY

Real Madrid ignored reports they had received showing Kylian Mbappe’s physical output was dropping prior to the Frenchman joining the club in the summer, according to reports.

England could be handed an even harder FIFA World Cup qualifying group as a significant rule change threatens to pit the Three Lions against higher-ranking opponents.

Chelsea loanee Lesley Ugochukwu has deleted all references to Southampton from his Instagram account.

Supporters have been left fuming after Paul Pogba’s expected return to the pitch was cancelled just four days before the returning Frenchman was set to play.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa had to be held back by match-day stewards after confronting an angry fan in the stands as the club’s recent revival was brought to an abrupt halt by Bournemouth.

SUNDAY MIRROR

Andreas Pereira has given Fulham cause for concern after admitting he would find it “very cool” to join Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille.

Manchester United midfielder Casemiro has paid tribute to teammate Tyrell Malacia and confirmed he handed him an FA Cup winners’ medal.

THE SUN ON SUNDAY

Chris Coleman has joined the Leicester group after being appointed boss of OH Leuven in Belgium.

Joshua Zirkzee reportedly wants to quit Manchester United for a reunion with old boss Thiago Motta at Juventus.

SUNDAY EXPRESS

Arsenal and West Ham fans clashed in the stands and brawled while their teams were on the pitch in their Premier League clash on Saturday evening.

THE ATHLETIC

U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes said she ‘understood’ the booing of one of her players, Korbin Albert, as she took to the field in a match against England in London on Saturday.

Raphinha says that there are “many things” that Barcelona are doing wrong following his side’s 2-1 home defeat to Las Palmas.

Real Madrid are set to be boosted with Rodrygo’s return from injury for the La Liga game with Getafe on Sunday.

England were held to an entertaining goalless draw with Olympic champions USA at Wembley as they ramp up preparations for next summer’s Euros title defence.

The Lionesses were on the back foot for the majority of the game but reduced their hosts to half chances as Rose Lavelle and Lindsey Horan, among others, tested Mary Earps, but never at full stretch.

What will have impressed Sarina Wiegman most was England’s ability to stay defensively resolute when faced with the pace and athleticism of the four-time World Cup winners, who remain unbeaten under Emma Hayes.

Their work at the opposite end wasn’t quite as assured or fluid as it’s been in the past, but Wiegman will take solace from a commendable shutout – their first of 2024 – particularly after conceding four against Germany on a punishing night in late October.

Maturity of defensive display impresses Wiegman

England manager Sarina Wiegman speaking on ITV:

“Very intense game at the very highest level. We were more mature than the last time we played at Wembley. As a team we defended really well. We had moments we could press in the second half, I would like more of that.

“The final pass to get behind we lost too quick. This game gives us information, that’s what we wanted. We’re trying out things and they challenged us. As a team we did well to recognise moments, tactically the team were really connected.

“There is big competition in the squad. Mary Earps absolutely showed up today. We’re learning things. This shows that we need to improve things, this is good, but we want to be better again.”

Sir Gino put up a brilliant display to take the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle.

In a race that was always the intended starting point for his superstar stablemate Constitution Hill before he met with a setback, Sir Gino stepped up to perform super-sub duties for Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard.

The unbeaten four-year-old had been earmarked to go novice chasing – and the way he jumped two from home suggests that will be right up his street.

However, always galloping all over his rivals up the straight, he ran right away from the rest after the last, with Nico de Boinville giving a triumphant salute aboard the 6-5 joint-favorite at the line.

Market rival Mystical Power was a big disappointment, with Mark Walsh sending out distress signals after the fourth-last aboard Willie Mullins’ five-year-old.

De Boinville was understandably suitably impressed.

He said: “First of all I’d like to thank the racecourse for the effort they made with the ground. They got it right so well played.

“He was fresh enough early doors and he jumped great. He just missed one going down the side, but that was only after I pulled him out wide in fairness. After that he seemed to learn a bit.

“He pinged all of them up the straight and he finished off well.

“I’ve got really swept up in the atmosphere here, it’s great, I’ve never had a reception like that anywhere else.

“He’s a very talented horse and we’ve always known that. To come and do it like that is impressive.

“I thought we went a nice even gallop all the way and his only semblance of a mistake was when I pulled him wide, but that was because I didn’t want to get hemmed in down the rail.

“You could see why we think he’s going to be a chaser, he’s got scope to burn.”

Lavender Hill Mob beaten on eagerly-awaited hurdling debut

Lavender Hill Mob suffered a shock reverse on his jumping debut, finishing well-beaten behind Inappropriate in the Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow ‘Introductory’ Juvenile Hurdle at Newcastle.

Seventh in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, the reappearance of Lavender Hill Mob (2-7 favourite) had been eagerly awaited ever since trainer James Owen mentioned him favourably in post-race dispatches following the runaway Cheltenham success of stablemate East India Dock last month.

It did seem to be going relatively to plan until things started to hot up, and Nico de Boinville’s mount was treading water when the Jedd O’Keeffe-trained Inappropriate (11-2) swept clear on what was both his jumping debut and first run for his new stable after leaving Harry Eustace.

O’Keeffe, who has his small string in good form, said: “We’re very pleased, we decided to have a punt at this race. We won it a few years ago with a horse we bought at the sales (Tavus, 2019) and it was a fairly small field that day so we thought we might get a small field again.

“We thought it was a nice place to start, even if he didn’t win it looked a nice place to introduce him.

“We’ve always liked him a lot at home and his jumping has always been exceptional, there’s a really nice rhythm and shape to the way he jumps and it was the same today.

“We haven’t made any plans, if there’s another race like this, quite valuable, that would be great, but I haven’t really looked beyond today in truth.”

He added: “Juvenile hurdles are different these days, there’s a lot of ex-French in them as the jumps trainers generally can’t compete with the overseas market but we managed to find him, so I’m delighted.”