Paper Round: Shock Liverpool return for Fernando Torres

‘Torres set for shock Prem return’ - Liverpool are poised to make a January move for Fernando Torres, that’s according to a report in the Mail on Sunday. The Reds, who seem to be giving up on the gamble that saw them sign Mario Balotelli for £16 million from Milan last summer, need to bolster their strike force. And Torres could fit the bill. Liverpool could realistically take the 30-year-old on loan in January with a view to a permanent move to allow Brendan Rodgers to add to his attacking options.

Paper Round’s view: What a horrible, horrible idea. Okay, so Torres was outstanding for the Reds in scoring 65 goals in 102 Premier League games before being sold to Chelsea for £50 million in 2010, but that doesn’t mean he would be a good fit now. Sure, it’s a romantic link, but Torres has not improved at all since leaving England, netting just once in 10 games for Milan so far this season. The old Torres is gone and his agent is perhaps being very clever in trying to tug on the heart strings from the past.

‘Bale gives United green light to make move’ – Gareth Bale has given the green light to a high profile return to the Premier League with Manchester United in the summer, that’s according to an ‘exclusive’ in the Sunday Express. It’s reported that the prospect of a return to this country at the end of the season appeals to him and his family and Louis Van Gaal is a big fan of the Welshman. The United boss would be happy to break the United buying record he set with the capture of another Real Madrid player, Angel Di Maria for £59.7 million, reports the paper.

Paper Round’s view: What a load of tosh. There’s no chance of Real Madrid selling Bale in the January window – a fact United are surely well aware of – and likely not in the summer either. Why would he want to leave the best team in the world when he is in top form and they are winning trophies left, right and centre? His move to the Bernabeu has undoubtedly been a success, so it would seem absurd for him to leave just as he is settled and established.

‘Arsenal to make ‘monster’ bid for Saints star - Arsenal are set to make a ‘monster’ bid to finally sign Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin in the January transfer window, that’s according to the Metro. Schneiderlin held talks with the Gunners over a move in the summer, only for the switch to collapse with Southampton insisting he stays put. The bid would blow any rival offers out of the water, and allow Arsenal a clear run to sign their man.

Paper Round’s view: Tottenham are also reportedly keen to land Schneiderlin and, frankly, it’s no surprise that big Premier League clubs want to take the Southampton midfielder given his form over the last few seasons. He has again been a stalwart for Ronald Koeman’s side this season and would certainly not come cheap given Southampton’s reluctance to sell him in the summer.

‘Spurs eye up England starlet’ - Tottenham want to sign West Brom striker Saido Berahino as soon as the transfer window opens on New Year’s Day, that’s according to The Sun. Franco Baldini, the club’s technical director, and Paul Mitchell, new head of recruitment, have made nabbing Berahino Tottenham’s top priority in January, so say the paper. And the England Under-21 hitman is reportedly desperate to make the move, believing he has to take the step up to a bigger club to develop his career. Spurs areplanning a £15 million raid for the Baggies star as chief scout Ian Broomfield tracked him at every game he played.

Paper Round’s view: It seems very likely that Berahino will depart the Hawthorns, either in January or the summer, but would it really be a good move for him? He’s developing fast and getting to play a key role at the Baggies, but moving on would perhaps limit his opportunities at this key stage of his career. Berahino and West Brom are reportedly in a stand-off over a new deal, so perhaps Tottenham sense that now is a good time to get in early with a big bid. His current deal, believed to be worth £16,000 a week, runs until 2017 but Berahino could no doubt improve his contract considerably at White Hart Lane.