Thursday's latest stories from the world of football in ESPN FC's What's Trending ...
EVERTON: Wayne Rooney said he has never before "struck a football better" than he did when scoring from inside his own half to complete his first Everton hat trick on Wednesday in front of Sam Allardyce.
- Allardyce is close to agreeing a deal to be Everton's new manager following a lengthy search for Ronald Koeman's successor.
- Everton fans may take exception to Sam Allardyce's playing style but he is the one option that virtually guarantees safety and security, writes Mark Ogden.
- There were flashes of the Wayne Rooney of old on Wednesday night with a spectacular hat trick in Everton's 4-0 win over woeful West Ham, writes Luke O'Farrell.
ARSENAL: Arsene Wenger confirmed Alexandre Lacazette will miss Saturday's Premier League clash against Manchester United with the groin injury he suffered during Wednesday's 5-0 win over Huddersfield.
- Wenger is confident Mesut Ozil will show his commitment to Arsenal when they face Manchester United on Saturday, despite being widely linked with a possible move to Jose Mourinho's side next summer.
- Santi Cazorla has said he has had to undergo yet another operation on his foot, delaying his return to the pitch even further.
- Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal's new chief scout Sven Mislintat will report to him rather than Ivan Gazidis, saying the club CEO has "nothing to do with buying players."
MAN UNITED: Rio Ferdinand believes Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku is struggling to deal with the added pressure of competing with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
- Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been absent in three of United's last four games with Arsenal and former Jose Mourinho favourite Mesut Ozil up next, writes Richard Jolly.
- Transfer Talk: Real Madrid to give up on David De Gea and chase Thibaut Courtois instead
WATCH: When will Jose Mourinho lose patience with Romelu Lukaku?
REAL MADRID: Neymar's father has said it is too early to discuss the prospect of his son joining Real Madrid but stressed that there are no current plans to leave Paris Saint-Germain.
- Keylor Navas is not unsettled by reports that Real Madrid are lining up a bid for Athletic Bilbao's rising star Kepa Arrizabalaga in the winter transfer window.
- Spanish prosecutors have accused Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric of defrauding tax authorities of €870,728 ($1 million) in 2013 and 2014.
- In-form Lyon forward Mariano Diaz has denied he could be set for a quick return to his former club Real Madrid.
BARCELONA: Ivan Rakitic has said he would bring Neymar back to Barcelona if he had a magic wand.
- WATCH: Is Barcelona's defence better without Neymar?
LIVERPOOL: Emre Can has insisted that his sole focus remains on Liverpool as he is set to enter the final six months of his current deal at Anfield.
- Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet admits he had to take a chance that referee Martin Atkinson would not send him off in order to keep a clean sheet at Stoke.
- Liverpool player ratings: With two late goals Mohamed Salah rates 9/10, but Simon Mignolet only earned 5/10.
WATCH: Jurgen Klopp says scoreline doesn't reflect Liverpool's hard work
TOTTENHAM: Spurs are interested in a move for West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini, sources close to both clubs have told ESPN FC.
- Former Tottenham winger David Ginola believes that Dele Alli needs to be "more in charge of the game" if he is to produce his top form more consistently.
- The situation is critical at Tottenham and although Mauricio Pochettino is unsure what to do, it's clear some medium and long term change is needed, writes John Crace.
- - Dele Alli is struggling, Harry Kane doesn't look fit and Toby Alderweireld is missed. But Mauricio Pochettino still has an excellent team, writes Iain Macintosh.
CHELSEA: Antonio Conte said he apologised to referee Neil Swarbrick and fourth official Lee Mason for the outburst that saw him sent from the touchline during Chelsea's 1-0 win over Swansea City at Stamford Bridge.
- Cesar Azpilicueta was not in the Chelsea starting XI to face Swansea City on Wednesday, breaking a run of 74 straight starts in the Premier League.
- Ashley Cole has told ESPN FC that Chelsea can still challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title, and claims the Arsenal "Invincibles" side he was part of would beat Pep Guardiola's men.
PREMIER LEAGUE: Raheem Sterling scored another dramatic late winner to extend Manchester City's winning run with a 2-1 triumph over Southampton on Wednesday.
- Pep Guardiola said he couldn't control his emotions after jumping on the pitch to celebrate Sterling's winner and then explained his chat with Nathan Redmond afterward.
- Imagine if Jose Mourinho had acted in the same way Pep Guardiola did with Nathan Redmond on Wednesday night. The Man City boss' clash was rather odd, writes Alex Shaw.
LIGUE 1: Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery declared his happiness at his team's performance from an organisational point of view in the 2-0 home win over Troyes in Ligue 1 on Wednesday.
- Monaco lose to Nantes, drop to fourth in Ligue 1.
WORLD CUP: When the lights go down at the State Kremlin Palace on Friday it will signal the start of a show that has been more than 12 months in the making, writes Nick Ames.
WEST BROM: West Bromwich Albion have confirmed the appointment of Alan Pardew as their new manager.
MARSEILLE: Marseille captain Steve Mandanda has suggested to beIN SPORTS that he too might have kung-fu kicked an abusive fan like Patrice Evra, telling his former teammate he has no reason to apologise for losing his cool.
JUVENTUS: Massimiliano Allegri has denied reports of a rift in the dressing room, although he says he would not mind some more passion from his players as he prepares them for their top-of-the-table Serie A clash at Napoli on Friday night.
- Dani Alves has admitted he left Juventus in the summer because he was not enjoying his football in Italy, where he feels he was misunderstood.
BAYERN MUNICH: Germany general manager Oliver Bierhoff has suggested national team coach Joachim Low will not leave his post to join Bayern Munich following the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
- Robert Lewandowski has appeared to criticise former coach Carlo Ancelotti's training methods after a recent spate of injuries at the club.
- Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt has told Sport Bild that returning to Bayern Munich is "like coming back to a family."
Source: espn.co.uk