UK Back Pages: China Target Wayne Rooney, Man City Fear Pellegrini Meltdown

Adam Johnson is in an unfortunate spotlight, as Sunderland sacked the winger on Thursday after his guilty pleas in his child sex case. 

While the England man is the story in the press, there's still plenty of gossip to keep the rumour mill churning. 

In the Mirror, former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson claims Wayne Rooney is the next target of newly rich China. Also, Manchester City stars fear that lame-duck Manuel Pellegrini may experience a meltdown at the Etihad. 

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Friday's Daily Mirror back page:
Sacked#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/7IObLKCqV4

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 11, 2016"

Elsewhere, the Sun uses some interesting Photoshop Star Wars imagery to demonstrate manager Louis van Gaal's belief that he'll stay on at Old Trafford if Manchester United reach the UEFA Champions League. 

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Friday's Sun back page:
Exclusive - May the 4th be with me#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mufc pic.twitter.com/ReefBHFnjA

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 11, 2016"

Manchester United's the story in the Daily Telegraph, as pressure hits chairman Ed Woodward to sign "the world's best." 

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Friday's Telegraph Sport -
Woodward: 'Pressure on to sign the world's best'#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mufc pic.twitter.com/sRxhgvPysy

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 11, 2016"

It's all Manchester United in the Independent, which has an exclusive with Van Gaal, who opens up about criticism, Jose Mourinho and more. 

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Friday's Independent Sport:
The softer side of LVG#tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers #mufc pic.twitter.com/MxRI6spLr5

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 11, 2016"

The Star teases the long-running rumour that United will make a lucrative push for Barcelona star Neymar. 

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Friday's Daily Star back page:
Axed #tomorrowspaperstoday #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/GQaChrvABQ

— Nick Sutton (@suttonnick) February 11, 2016"

[Twitter]