Monday's gossip column


TRANSFER GOSSIP

Striker Didier Drogba is ready to sign a new contract and stay at Chelsea. (Daily Mirror) 
Premier League newcomers Wolves and Birmingham are both battling to sign Manchester City keeper Joe Hart on loan. (Daily Mail) 
Out-of-contract Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell is considering a three-year deal to finish his career in Switzerland with Basle.(Daily Mail) 
Fulham are preparing a bid for £4.5m-rated West Bromwich Albion winger Chris Brunt.(Daily Mail) 
Tuncay, Afonso Alves, Stewart Downing and David Wheater will be just some of the names leaving Middlesbrough after they were relegated to the Championship. (Daily Express)
Everton and Fulham are tracking Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker. (Daily Mirror) 
Former Everton winger Andy van der Meyde is training with Blackburn in the hope of winning a deal there. (Daily Mirror) 
Aberdeen captain Scott Severin could decide to stay if the club improve their contract offer after qualifying for the Europa League. (Daily Express) 
Madjid Bougherra says there is no way he will leave Rangers in the summer after the defender helped Rangers win the Scottish title and a place in the Champions League group stages. (Daily Mirror)
Hearts want to re-sign Paul Hartley and the midfielder is happy to return to Tynecastle if Celtic fail to offer him a new contract. (The Sun) 
Bruno Aguiar has confirmed on his Facebook page that he will leave Hearts after the midfielder rejected a new contract. (The Sun)

OTHER GOSSIP 

Sunderland are lining up Celtic manager Gordon Strachan to replace Ricky Sbragia, who resigned as Black Cats boss on Sunday. (Daily Mirror)
Frank Rijkaard, Martin Jol and Slaven Bilic are also believed to be on Sunderland's shortlist to replace Sbragia. (Daily Mirror) 
Gordon Strachan is poised to quit Celtic as manager, with a statement expected this week and Sunderland targeting the former Southampton boss. (The Sun)
Motherwell's Mark McGhee has emerged as favourite to succeed Gordon Strachan as Celtic manager. (The Sun) 
But Burnley's Owen Coyle, West Brom's Tony Mowbray and former West Ham manager Alan Curbishley will also feature on Celtic's shortlist. (The Sun)
Motherwell's Mark McGhee is favourite to succeed Jimmy Calderwood as manager of Aberdeen. (The Scotsman) 
Aberdeen midfielder Ricky Foster says the club have made a mistake by forcing out manager Jimmy Calderwood. (Daily Express)

AND FINALLY 

Shear drop, Sob on the Tyne, Sheer agony, Tears on the Tyne and Down and out are just some of the back-page headlines relating to Newcastle's relegation. (Various)
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