Thursday's football gossip Thursday's Photos of the day

The broadsheets look ahead to Michael Vaughan's first game as England's Test captain, while the red tops continue to be preoccupied with events at Stamford Bridge.

Vaughan will hope he performs as well in the second Test against South Africa as he did in front of the English media on Wednesday.

He certainly seems to have charmed the assembled hacks.

THE HEADLINES Daily Telegraph: Vaughan in for the long haul The Times: Vaughan at ease as he slips into seat of power The Sun: Bottlers: Fury as Chelsea accused of ducking crunch game Daily Mirror: Wenger: I will make Vieira stay The Guardian: Vaughan poised for giant leap Daily Express: �40m misfit Daily Star: Fergie blast Daily Mail: Going for good: Nasser ready to give up all cricket The Independent: Vaughan has steel for England challenge

"Vaughan sailed through his first press conference as Test-match captain as easily as he hits a half-volley through the covers," writes Christopher Martin-Jenkins in The Times.

"Vaughan looked entirely at ease with his hasty appointment," agrees Derek Pringle in the Daily Telegraph.

And Martin-Jenkins certainly has high hopes that Vaughan can translate Wednesday's impressive form onto the pitch on Thursday.

"His may be a captaincy ranked equally with the past two regular England captains from Yorkshire, Len Hutton and Raymond Illingworth," he writes.

"He is a very good player, he is a relaxed yet organised person and he has the greatest ally any captain can possess, a good hand of fast bowlers."

High hopes indeed.

You would barely know a Test match was about to be played if you glanced at the back pages of the tabloids, which seem unable to avert their collective gaze from Stamford Bridge.

There seems to be confusion as to whether Chelsea have completed a deal for Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron.

The Daily Express claim they have and that the deal is worth �40m.

"Not bad for a player with a big reputation yet to be justified in English football," muses Harry Harris.

Yet The Star says the transfer has not yet gone through and reports that Sir Alex Ferguson is furious that Veron's agent has been negotiating a deal against the player's wishes.