A look at the stories making the back-page headlines in Sunday's national press.
MAIL ON SUNDAY: Sir Alex Ferguson has planned his exit strategy from Manchester United and will quit in two years' time after building his last great team around Wayne Rooney and last week's £24million capture from Arsenal, Robin van Persie. Also: Kevin Pietersen will discover in the next 48 hours that all doors back to the England side are presently closed to him, probably for good.
THE SUN: Arsenal plunged into crisis last night in the wake of Robin van Persie's £22million move to Manchester United. Also: Sunderland are poised to land Adam Johnson in a shock £10million raid...Kevin Pietersen could receive a huge cash bonanza if he plays in Australia's Big Bash Twenty20 event next winter.
SUNDAY EXPRESS: Newcastle boss Alan Pardew faces an FA rap for pushing assistant referee Stuart Burt in last night's home win over Tottenham. Also: Jonny Bairstow admitted he was gutted to fall agonisingly short of his first Test century for England in their Lord's showdown with South Africa...Roberto Mancini insists the Premier League title race will not be just a Manchester affair.
THE PEOPLE: Roberto Mancini has been ordered by Manchester City's Abu Dhabi owners to stop his public attacks on football director Brian Marwood. Also: Alan Pardew could face an FA rap after pushing assistant referee Stuart Burt during Newcastle's dramatic 2-1 win over Tottenham...Sunderland last night made a move to sign £5million Dimitar Berbatov as the race for the Manchester United misfit begins to hot up.
THE SUNDAY TIMES: England are facing an uphill struggle to win the third and final Test - as they must do to level the series and retain their number one rating - after another see-saw day at Lord's yesterday. Also: Tottenham have approached Manchester City for Adam Johnson who has grown frustrated at his lack of playing time under Roberto Mancini.
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY: Arsenal accepted the loss of a second regular first-team player last night when agreeing a £15million fee with Barcelona for Alex Song, who will have a medical in Spain today. Also: For the next three weeks, Britain's Chris Froome, runner-up in the Tour de France behind his Sky team-mate Bradley Wiggins, will have the chance to prove whether he too is able to clinch a major Tour in his own right.
DAILY STAR SUNDAY: Manchester City are planning to discuss a new £180,000-a-week contract with Mario Balotelli in the new year. Also: Adam Johnson is on the way out at Manchester City after Sunderland offered £10million for the winger...Rio Ferdinand has plunged Manchester United into a central-defensive crisis after being injured in training.
SUNDAY MIRROR: Luka Modric is set to snub new interest from Chelsea to drive through his Real Madrid move this week. Also: Joey Barton last night launched a new attack on the FA - by branding them "a firm of muppets"...The full cost of Sir Alex Ferguson's sensational capture of Robin van Persie amounts to a massive £70million...Kevin Pietersen will remain in exile when England name three limited-overs squads on Tuesday - casting further doubt on his top-level future.
SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Brendan Rodgers endured an horrendous start to his career as Liverpool manager as his new club suffered their heaviest opening day defeat in the top flight since 1937. Also: Rio Ferdinand is expected to miss Manchester United's Premier League opener against Everton tomorrow and there are fears that the former England captain may be facing a month on the sidelines after sustaining an injury in training.
