I had to sell Torres, insists Chelsea boss Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has revealed he had to sell Fernando Torres as the striker needed a change of scenery.

The Spaniard was loaned to AC Milan during the summer transfer window, ending what had been a difficult spell at Stamford Bridge.

Torres will spend two seasons with the Italian outfit, which will see out the remainder of his current contract with the Blues, having failed to live up to his then-British record £50million move from Liverpool in 2011.

Mourinho admitted he has the upmost respect for Torres and hopes he thrives with his new club.

"About Fernando I have to say, with the respect that I bring to all my former players, that as a professional and as a person there is no discussion," said Mourinho.

Man City striker completes Celtic loan switch

Manchester City striker John Guidetti has completed a late seasong-long loan switch to Celtic after being given special dispensation by FIFA.

The Scottish champions tried to sign the 22-year-old Swede just before the 11pm transfer deadline on Monday night but part of the paperwork arrived just after midnight.

However, the Bhoys have been permission from football's governing body to complete the deal after the Scottish football authorities succeeded in an appeal.

A FIFA spokesperson said: "After checking the documentation received and the information contained in the international transfer matching system managed by FIFA TMS, the Scottish Football Association was informed today that the envisaged loan deal may proceed."

Guidetti, who is on Sweden Under-21s duty, welcomed the news.

He wrote on his Twitter account: "Delighted to have finally joined @celticfc on loan ... Can't wait to get started and play in front those fans #TheBhoys"

Bundesliga transfer round-up: Draxler could move to Arsenal in January

talkSPORT German football expert Olly Knaack thinks Arsenal target Julian Draxler will leave the Bundesliga either in January or next summer.

The Gunners have long been linked with the Schalke attacking midfielder and have seen bids knocked back for the 20-year-old in previous transfer windows.

Draxler signed a new five-year deal with the Gelsenkirchen side in May and revealed he had turned down a move to north London because he wants to spend one more season in Germany.

The World Cup winner is understood to have a £38million buy-out clause in his contract and Knaack reckons a Premier League side will meet that figure soon.

"I’m quite sure he’s got an opt out clause for next summer," the German football expert told Drivetime.

"If he plays a decent Champions League campaign he will definitely be a player who Schalke will find it’s hard to keep. There will be a club from the Premier League who will put up the money and he will leave, maybe even in the winter."

Another Die Nationalmannschaft star, Marco Reus, is another who has been linked to the Premier League with Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United all known admirers.

And Knaack added: "Dortmund will do everything to keep him. But he’s also got an opt out clause [believed to be £28m for next summer] and Bayern Munich are already talking about how difficult it will be for Dortmund to re-sign him.

"If Reus wants to leave, there are lots of clubs who would love to have him in their team. So it’s more or less Reus’ decision, Dortmund can’t do much about it if he decides to leave."

Italy star set to spurn Arsenal and Manchester United interest

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is set to commit his long-term future to the club amid lingering interest from Arsenal and Manchester United.

As reported by talkSPORT this week, both Premier League clubs are admirers of the 21-year-old midfielder, who joined the Ligue 1 outfit from Pescara in 2012.

And there was some uncertainty surrounding his future, with Verratti angling for a new deal which would take him in line with some of the club's highest earners.

Real Madrid attempted to take advantage of the situation with a reported late bid for the Italian in the closing stages of the transfer window.

But now, according to sources in Italy, Verratti is ready to pen a five-year deal in Paris which will also provide a healthy pay rise.

Exclusive - Davies: Liverpool boss Rodgers should replace Hodgson as England manager

Stan Collymore has told talkSPORT England should drop captain Wayne Rooney in favour of starting Danny Welbeck for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Switzerland.

The Three Lions skipper scored the only goal in the 1-0 friendly win over Norway, but was anonymous for much of the match and was overshadowed by an impressive substitute cameo from the new Arsenal signing.

And ex-England striker, Collymore, believes Welbeck linked up better with Daniel Sturridge and should be preferred ahead of Rooney for Monday's match in Basel.

"I would honestly go with Sturridge and Welbeck, I would have no problems with that at all," he told talkSPORT.

"I don't think there's any excuses from Wayne Rooney tonight. As the game went on he dropped deeper and deeper to try and do that little Hollywood thing he does where he picks it up and pings the ball out to a right winger and a left winger and it gets a polite round of applause from everybody saying 'ball, what a great ball that is.

"He's a better central striker than that. But the reality is he hasn't played consistently as a central striker for a number of years. I don't think he believes he can do it over 90 minutes anymore because the movement you need, both mental and physical, perhaps he isn't up to.

"He has got 400 games under his belt and a lot of miles on the clock. I actually thought, and a lot of people agree with me, that Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge looked a lot more of a threat and brought the likes of Raheem Sterling much more into the game than Wayne Rooney did.

"It's a debate we've got to have but we obviously know when you're captain of Manchester United and captain of England, he won't be dropped by club or by country unless he has an alarming drop off in form.

"Of course, he scored the penalty but Sturridge looked much livelier and tellingly looked for Danny Welbeck a lot more. They looked a far more intuitive partnership."

Transfer rumours and paper review - Thursday, September 4

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Thursday's newspapers...

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 29, would like to "come back" to Manchester United one day because the club remains in his heart. (Daily Mail)

The Red Devils are also looking to put together a £60m bid to bring Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba, 21, back to Old Trafford next summer. (Daily Express)

Liverpool striker Fabio Borini, 23, is already being targeted by Inter Milan for a move during the January transfer window. (Daily Express)

Joel Campbell's agent has criticised Arsene Wenger after the Arsenal manager rejected an offer for the 22-year-old forward to join Benfica on deadline day. (Daily Star)

Colorado Rapids are closing in on the signing of former England defender Zat Knight, 34, who is a free agent after leaving Bolton Wanderers. (MLS)

Benoit Assou-Ekotto's future is in doubt after the defender, 30, was left out of Tottenham's Premier League squad. (Daily Mail)

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, 22, is set to sign a new contract at Chelsea. (Daily Mirror) 

New Arsenal striker a doubt for England friendly after training injury

Roy Hodgson has confirmed new Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck is a doubt for England’s friendly against Norway after suffering an ankle injury in training.

The 23-year-old sealed a £16million deadline day move to the Emirates from Manchester United in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

But in his first session at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground, where the Three Lions made their preparations for Wednesday’s tie at Wembley, the striker picked up a knock in training that puts his participation in doubt.

On Welbeck’s late move, England manager Hodgson said: "We are happy for Danny. He felt the move might lead to more regular football and that will only be to our advantage and we think or hope he will be ready to start for Arsenal.

"But unfortunately in training today he did manage to receive a knock in the session, but I have been assured he is okay and that it will not rule him out, but obviously I suppose it could happen.

"I would be very disappointed if he could not play tomorrow because of what happened with the last kick of the session."

Hodgson is planning to field a "young team" against Norway, although the Three Lions coach revealed none of the four uncapped players in the 22-man squad will start.

While Calum Chambers, Fabian Delph and Danny Rose may get a chance off the bench, Jack Colback will have to wait.

The Newcastle midfielder will be available for the Switzerland match but an injury he injury picked up while playing for Newcastle at the weekend rules him out of the Wembley encounter, where he could be joined on the sidelines by Welbeck.

Hodgson confirmed Colback's absence from Wednesday night's match, saying: "He's been having treatment since we got together on the Sunday but unfortunately it's still going to be a day too soon for him.

"Hopefully he'll recover by Thursday so when we go to St George's Park he'll train but unfortunately he's out of the game for tomorrow, but he's the only one."

Tottenham defender has surgery following ongoing injury troubles

Tottenham and England right-back Kyle Walker has undergone lower abdominal surgery, his club have announced.

The 24-year-old has not played for Spurs since March, and no timescale was put on his recovery in a brief statement on their official website on Tuesday evening.

"Kyle Walker has undergone lower abdominal surgery," it read.

"The England right-back's pre-season preparations were disrupted by the abdominal injury and the decision to have surgery was taken following further medical assessment by specialists."

The north London club had initially hoped to avoid surgery, but resorted to sending the player for an operation in a bid to fix the long-standing problem.

"Kyle is good some days. On other days he has a bad feeling," boss Mauricio Pochettino said last month.

"We believe he may recover soon, but we need to be calm with him because it is an injury that he has had for five months."

Exclusive – Wenger can get the best out of Welbeck, says Man United legend

Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel believes Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger can take Danny Welbeck to the next level.

The England striker joined the Gunners on transfer deadline day in a £16million move as Radamel Falcao signed for the Red Devils on loan.

And as it looks like Welbeck will be given a chance to play as a central striker at the Emirates with Olivier Giroud absent through injury, Schmeichel feels Wenger is the right man to get the best out of the 23-year-old.

“I don’t think it’s a gamble [by Arsene Wenger to sign Welbeck]. It’s unfair to use his goalscoring stats against him. I know he has started a few games [centrally] but he’s not really had a proper opportunity to be a number nine and he will get that at Arsenal.

“Danny Welbeck is a fantastic player he’s got great technique it looks a bit awkward but it’s difficult to play against.

“He’s lightning quick and I think he appreciates he has to work on his goalscoring ratio. It’s not what it should be as he gets chances, but he hasn’t been able to put them away.

"Maybe he’s been working too much on the flanks and using up all his energy so when he gets an opportunity in front of goal he hasn’t got that little bit of concentration you need to stick it away.

“He’s getting a chance with Arsenal now, it’s a great opportunity. I think he’s getting a great manager [in Arsene Wenger] who can bring him up to the next level.”

Transfer rumours and paper review – Wednesday, September 3

Here's the top transfer-related stories in Wednesday's newspapers...

Manchester United are lining up a move for Roma's Netherlands midfielder Kevin Strootman, 24, in the January transfer window. (Daily Mail)

Liverpool have agreed personal terms on a one-year deal with former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, with the free agent set to move to Anfield imminently. (Daily Express)

But the Reds could have to wait until November to sign Valdes, 32, as he is recovering from a knee injury. (Daily Star)

Liverpool striker Fabio Borini's demands over wages and a get-out clause in his contract scuppered a move to QPR for the 23-year-old. (The Sun)

French winger Hatem Ben Arfa, 27, is likely to have played his last game for Newcastle United after joining Hull City on loan. (Daily Telegraph)

Ben Arfa almost cried at the warm welcome he got when he arrived at Hull. (Daily Mirror)

Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi claims Argentina winger Angel Di Maria, 26, wanted to join the Ligue 1 club before his move from Real Madrid to Manchester United. (Daily Mail)