Gossip column: Advocaat, Sterling, Drogba, Neves, Smalling

Sunderland manager Dick Advocaat is understood to be considering quitting the club after Saturday's home game against West Ham, having become disillusioned with life on a limited budget. (Guardian) 

The Daily Star lead with Arsene Wenger not pursuing a move for Anthony Martial because he did not think Monaco would sell him 

Advocaat has already told Sunderland's backroom staff he is ready to leave, with former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson in the frame to replace him. (Daily Mail) 
Burnley boss Sean Dyche is also among the contenders to take over from the Dutchman at the Stadium of Light. (Daily Mirror) 
Monaco received a bid higher than the £36m that Manchester United paid for Anthony Martial from a mystery club in the summer, but the teenager wanted to move to Old Trafford. (Manchester Evening News) 
 
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, 20, claims he never told England manager Roy Hodgson that he would not be able to play in the Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia last year because of tiredness. (Guardian) 

The Times sport section front page leads on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger's tense press conference with journalists 

Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy, 30, is ready to consider his long-term future at the club after losing his place in the France squad. (Daily Mail) 
West Brom manager Tony Pulis says Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew should become the next England coach after Roy Hogdson. (Times - subscription required) 
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, 25, has credited his recent form to manager Louis van Gaal's intensive training methods. (Daily Express) 
Chelsea are planning to make a £29m bid for 18-year-old FC Porto midfielder Ruben Neves next year. (Evening Standard) 
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, 37, was voted Major League Soccer player of the month after scoring seven goals in his first six games for Montreal Impact. (Montreal Gazette) 

Best of social media

How do you celebrate scoring 500 career goals? If you're Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo you grab a whole load of trophies, put your best tie on and pose with your team-mates for a photo on Facebook. 
Think you can score a free-kick, bending the ball up and over the wall, into the net? Could you do it blindfolded? Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata can - and he's posted a video  to prove it.

And finally...

Watford captain Troy Deeney, 27, says he looks for two-for-one bargains at the supermarket despite picking up a multi-million pound salary with the Hornets. (Daily Star) 
Stoke City playmaker Bojan Krkic impressed Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood as he won the club's 'best baker' competition for a triple-layer, strawberry-and-cream sponge creation. (Independent) 
Manchester United fan and Russian cosmonaut Alexey Yakovlev sent his beloved team's flag up into orbit on the International Space Station. Why? To bring some "space energy" to the club. (Daily Mirror)  from (Red News)