Paper Talk: Mudryk preferred Arsenal before Chelsea move
Right, let's end things tonight with a quick roundup of some of the biggest stories making Saturday's back pages, with Mykhailo Mudryk reportedly having preferred a move to Arsenal before completing his 88m transfer to Chelsea, according to Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Darijo Srna.
Arteta does not rule out Dowman loan
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has not ruled out the possibility of agreeing a loan for Max Dowman in the future, and says the club evaluates possibilities for the 16-year-old sensation every six months.
Dowman netted in the Gunners' 4-2 win at Ipswich in the Carabao Cup third round, wit midfielder Mikel Mireno comparing the winger to Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal.
"We haven't really listened to any of the possibilities because we were clear that we want to have him in the squad, that we wanted him to be part of the pre-season," Arteta said.
"I'm going to start to see where we are from there. We will evaluate every six months where we are, what is the best thing for him to do and from there make the right decisions.
"It will depend on a lot of factors, what he needs, where the team is as well, the availability that we have in the squad, the amount of minutes that he's playing, the quality he's delivering when he's got those minutes.
"We have to be open, but now the focus is to be here and impact the team.
"There have been many cases of that age that they've gone and they've been successful, some others not. Particularly, I think I was 17 when I went to Paris. Depending on the atmosphere that you find there, how much the coach believes in you, you go there just to be part of a squad, not to play minutes.
"Which country, depends. But now he's in a great place. He's in a good place right now and let's keep him here."
Does Alexander Isak get star struck? Liverpool star fact checks the internet!
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak takes on Fact or Fiction, where he must decide whether a selection of statements are true or false!
Alonso: Chelsea didn't need reset - they needed an update
Xabi Alonso says Chelsea were in need of "an update" rather than a full reset when he was appointed manager this summer.
De Zerbi: Kulusevski will like 'a new signing'
The eagerly-anticipated return of playmaker Dejan Kulusevski will be like a "new signing" for Tottenham, according to head coach Roberto De Zerbi.
Kulusevski has not played for Spurs since the end of the 2024/25 campaign due to a right patella injury, which has essentially put the career of the Sweden international on hold for 19 months and ruled him out of the summer World Cup.
There finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel after Kulusevski returned to full training this week.
He first returned in August only to suffer a small setback, but the 26-year-old is back and whilst he is not ready to face Aston Villa on Saturday, a first comeback appearance could be on the horizon in October or November.
"We have to manage Deki in the best way we can, with the medical staff, physical staff, but it's a great thing for us," De Zerbi said.
"He's a good player, he's a good guy and he deserves to play again.
"We have to work day by day, also for Deki it's important the international break because when he will be at the top of condition and pass over the injury, I think it's a great signing. A new signing for us, another new signing."
PL future stars light up the Carabao Cup third round!
Take a look at some of the future Premier League stars making their mark in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Iraola: Barcola in a good place
Andoni Iraola is confident Bradley Barcola will soon get up to speed for Liverpool.
The Frenchman is yet to play a full 90 minutes since a big-money move to Anfield from Paris St Germain at the end of the summer transfer window.
Iraola said: "With Bradley, the more times he plays the better he will become.
"He has come straight in without pre-season minutes but in a good shape and, like all the signings coming from other leagues, he will need some time to adjust to the rhythm of the Premier League.
"But he is very used to playing in high-level games and I see him in a good place."
'Not on my radar' - Carrick dismisses speculation over Man Utd future
Manchester Utd head coach Michael Carrick dismisses questions about his future at the club saying it is not even in his thinking.
Carrick: Gabriel situation will work itself out
Man Utd boss Michael Carrick asked for a JJ Gabriel update:
"I think he's a young boy, JJ, and I think it's important that we certainly don't play anything out here.
"I think with the exposure and the scrutiny and everything that you've got to be careful, be sensible, and think of him as much as anything.
"So the situation will work itself out, or whatever way it's going to work itself out. Make sure he's okay."
Summer signing Westley 'desperate' for Dundee return
Dundee striker Joe Westley has made himself available for Saturday's Premiership home game against Motherwell to help ease boss Steven Pressley's injury crisis.
Westley, who joined Dundee from Burnley in August last year, left the field on a stretcher after fracturing a cheekbone in the recent 2-1 defeat at Hearts.
The London-born 21-year-old opted not to have surgery to repair the damage and trained on Wednesday in a protective mask.
Pressley, without six first-team players through injury and suspension, told a press conference: "He could potentially make the game. He's desperate to play.
"Joe has the type of personality where he could have gone for an operation to ensure everything was alright but he would have missed the game.
"He would have been back for the next one, but that's not Joe. He just wants to play. He doesn't want to miss any minutes, so he chose the secondary option, which was not to get an operation and potentially be fine for the weekend.
"He messaged me on Sunday, pretty much telling me he was ready to go."
