Paper Round: Chris Coleman to defect to Swansea while Wilfried Zaha ditches England

A number of Thursday's back pages report that Wales boss Chris Coleman is the frontrunner for the newly vacant position of Swansea manager after Bob Bradley was sacked on Tuesday. The Guardian suggests that as a Swansea native, Coleman would be a popular choice with fans and could see his head turned by an offer likely to outdo anything the Football Association of Wales could realistically afford to pay him.

Paper Round’s view: Yesterday it was Ryan Giggs, today it is Chris Coleman, we expect tomorrow it'll be Anthony Hopkins touted as top of the Swans' hit list. Yes, we know we said yesterday it was Giggs' time to step out of the shadows and take the lead, but we would also probably rather have Coleman, given the choice. Do Swansea have a choice, though? Coleman has previously insisted he wants to see Wales through their World Cup qualification process but money does, inevitably, talk.

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Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has been named in Ivory Coast’s preliminary squad for the African Cup of Nations, thus ruling him out of future England squads. Zaha is the first England player in over 50 years to switch international allegiances, The Times report, and he was able to do so having only represented England in friendlies, back in 2012 and 2013, rather than competitive fixtures. Apparently Zaha rejected attempts by new England manager Gareth Southgate to woo him back into the Three Lions’ fold.

Elsewhere, reports suggest new manager Sam Allardyce is so angry about the 24-year-old abandoning his team in their hour of need as they battle it out at the bottom of the table, he might even sell him.

Paper Round’s view: At 24 years old, having not yet made a competitive appearance for England, you couldn't blame the Abidjan-born winger for being dubious about Southgate's alleged attempts at wooing him. Unlike half the England squad (if the age-old rumours are to be believed) Zaha clearly wants to play international football and why shouldn't he take the opportunity where he can?

As for Big Sam selling him as penance for this, it's no secret Zaha has been eying a move since at least the summer.

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A number of Thursday’s front and back pages focus on Sir Bradley Wiggins’ announcement of his retirement. Wiggins’ illustrious cycling career saw transitions from track to road and back again, earning himself eight Olympic medals between 2000 and 2016, as well as a Tour de France win in the process.

Paper Round’s view: The announcement of Wiggins’ retirement was always expected to follow the Six Days of Ghent meet in November, which he won alongside long-term team member, Mark Cavendish. Though the final months of Wiggins’ career were dogged by controversy with regards to the timing of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) for banned corticosteroids, we at Paper Round will reflect on the highlights of Wiggins’ career.

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The Daily Mirror's back page leads with Paul Pogba, um, playing football. BUT NOT AT OLD TRAFFORD! No, he hasn’t been linked with a spurious transfer-window mega-move, rather he was enjoying a low-key kickabout with some pals on a £69.50-an hour five-a-side pitch. What a normal human being the £89.5 million record signing must be.

Paper Round’s view: We’re sure Pogba is dead normal, and very much just "one of the boys” as The Mirror suggests. And we’re sure it wasn’t set up by a canny PR team. We also wonder if he managed to score against his five-a-side opponents. Perhaps they could give Mourinho some tips on getting the best out of him.

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