Paper Round: Isco linked with Liverpool and Arsenal

Isco linked with Premier League duo: Liverpool and Arsenal have switched their attentions to Real Madrid outcast Isco with Juventus winning the race for Barcelona's Pedro, according to the Daily Express. Isco joined Carlo Ancelotti's side in 2013 for £24million and has impressed in flashes, but he has struggled to keep a place in the starting line-up due to Real Madrid's big spending ways. The Express cites reports in Spain claiming the 22-year-old is plotting a January exit.

Paper Round's view: The Express' report seems relatively flimsy but it is not unrealistic to suggest that Isco might seek a move elsewhere in the feasible future. Isco had been linked with Liverpool in the summer but it is believed he is going to stick it out at Real for the season at least to see if he can establish himself at his dream club. Liverpool would seem a better fit than Arsenal if he does leave as the Gunners are not exactly devoid of tidy, skilful midfielders. However, a lot could change between now and next summer. Isco is one to stick on the watch-list but talk of a move away from the Bernabeu remains a little premature.

Protests planned at St James' Park: An anonymous group of Newcastle fans have organised the production of 200 banners and 15,000 leaflets calling for Alan Pardew to be sacked. The Daily Mirror reports that a significant section of the St James' Park crowd is expected to rally against the under-fire manager during the Premier League game against Hull City on Saturday. Pardew's side have won just once in their last 12 league games, failing to score in eight of their last 10. Pardew, for his part, labelled the expected protests as "mass hysteria".

Paper Round's view: Mass hysteria it may be, but apparently with good reason. Newcastle are treading water with Pardew at the helm and with no signs of progress, fans are entitled to let their feelings be known. It promises to be an interesting afternoon on Tyneside, but Toon supporters should not hold their breath if they are expecting something to come of their protests - since when has Mike Ashley listened to fans?

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Ben Arfa could return: The Sun reports that Newcastle outcast Hatem Ben Arfa could return to St James' Park this season, if Pardew is sacked. The paper claims that Ben Arfa himself, Hull City or Newcastle can cancel his season-long loan at the KC Stadium by the start of next year, meaning that he could make a shock return to his parent club this campaign.

Paper Round's view: This is very much a hypothetical outcome at the moment. Ben Arfa may well be liked by Toon fans, but staff and players are not universally in accord with that view. And even if Pardew, who apparently has not spoken to Ben Arfa since July, and his staff were sacked, players like Fabricio Coloccini have already expressed that they do not want him back. Any return could potentially divide the dressing room, and that is the last thing Newcastle need at the moment. Players who can deliver much points, yes, but behind-the-scenes problems, absolutely not.

England set to win a tournament: The Mirror is among the papers to report that Wembley is in line to host the final and both semi-finals of the 2020 European Championship. UEFA president Michel Platini is set to make the announcement on Friday after a vote by European football’s ruling executive committee. Euro 2020 will be hosted by 12 countries but the three biggest matches are expected to be given to Wembley, ahead of Munich's Allianz Arena.

Paper Round's view: Given the last time Wembley hosted an international final was back in 1996, it's about time the stadium was given another chance. Relationships between England and UEFA have been strained, to say the least, over recent years, but this could be an indication that bridges have been built. And if so, perhaps that will lead to a successful bid to become the sole host of Euro 2028 - and maybe even a future World Cup.

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Dyke to give back watch: FA chairman Greg Dyke will have to give back a gift of a watch he received from the World Cup amid another FIFA ''freebie'' embarrassment, reports the Mirror. The FA has been dragged into the scandal after it emerged that representatives from each of the 32 member associations competing in the World Cup were given the swanky Parmigiani timepiece as part of a gift bag presented in Brazil. Regulations state that football officials may not offer or accept gifts that have more than "symbolic or trivial value" - a rule the £16,000 watch is clearly in breach of. Dyke will return the watch, which will then be donated to good causes back in Brazil.

Paper Round's view: Dyke has said he had no idea of the value of the watch and that it is still in its original packaging - he even went as far as to say he had "set the bag aside in my box of items to donate to charity", but still, questions remain. Not least why such lavish gifts are being doled out. Thirty-two times £16,000 - you can do the math, but that's a lot of money that is just being wasted when it could be spent on far more worthwhile causes in the football community. At least the money will find its way to a good cause in the end, albeit via a rather circuitous route.

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