Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Tottenham striker Robbie Keane has emerged as a transfer target for Celtic boss Tony Mowbray.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea have agreed in principle to sign 17-year-old Croatian goalkeeper Matej Delac from Inter Zapresic for about £2m. However, unless the Blues win an appeal over their transfers ban, they will not be able to sign him until January 2011. (Daily Mail) 
Wigan striker Marlon King has been linked with a loan move to Championship side Sheffield United (Daily Mirror) 
Former Manchester City defender Michael Ball is being targeted by Notts County director of football Sven-Goran Eriksson. The 29-year-old is currently without a club. (Daily Mirror) 
Preston defender Sean St Ledger will be recruited to help strengthen Middlesbrough's rearguard in a £3m deal.(Daily Mirror) 
Roy Keane's Ipswich are hoping to agree a loan deal for Bolton's Nigerian defender Danny Shittu. (Daily Mail) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor could be handed a six-match ban by the Football Association for his clash with Robin van Persie, who claims he was deliberately stamped on, and the goal celebration in the game against the Togo international's former club Arsenal. (Daily Star)
Or Adebayor's punishment may consist of a four-match suspension.(Daily Mirror) 
Reading may be the next club in line for a big-money takeover, with chairman John Madejski weighing up a £80m deal to sell the Championship club to a Middle Eastern consortium. (The Sun) 
George Burley is poised to axe assistants Steven Pressley and Tommy McLean if he keeps his job as national manager after a review by the Scottish FA. (The Scotsman) 
Rangers manager Walter Smith saved Madjid Bougherra from a second red card by telling the defender to say sorry for the outburst that led to him being sent off against Motherwell on Saturday. (The Sun)
St Johnstone defender Dave Mackay has accused St Mirren midfielder Stephen McGinn of cheating by diving to win a penalty in Saturday's 1-1 draw. (Various) 
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson has complained that his side have had novice referees in three of their four games this season. (The Sun)
Hibernian striker Colin Nish, who was sent off in injury time in the 2-0 defeat by Hamilton, claims he is being targeted by referees. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

There were no draws in the Premier League this weekend and there have only been three in the 46 top-flight matches played in England so far this season. (The Sun)
John McVeigh is to appeal against a four-year touchline ban from the junior FA after allegedly hitting a referee with his own notebook, after which the former Partick Thistle and Airdrie boss resigned as Lanark United manager. (The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk

Saturday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

The true cost of taking Carlos Tevez to Manchester City from rivals United may have cost the Eastlands club an astonishing £47m. (The Times) 
But a spokesman for Kia Joorabchian, who fronts the company that effectively owned Tevez before his switch to Eastlands, insists that figure is "not true". (Independent) 
Cardiff midfielder Joe Ledley has rejected the club's first offer of a new contract.(Daily Mail) 
Mexico striker Guillermo Franco claims he has signed a one-year deal with West Ham, bringing to an end Gianfranco Zola's long search for a new forward.(Daily Mail) 
Chelsea intend to open new contract talks with Salomon Kalou to fend off an approach from former boss Jose Mourinho, the Inter Milan manager.(Daily Mail) 
Former Middlesbrough and Newcastle striker Mark Viduka is returning home to live in Australia, according to his agent.(The WorldGame.com.au) 
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson expects negotiations over a new contract for Arsenal and Everton target Brede Hangeland to speed up now the transfer window has closed.(Metro) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Goalkeeper Pepe Reina fears Liverpool's title assault may already be over after just four games. (The Sun) 
Arsenal striker Robin van Persie has taken a swipe at Manchester City by insisting their money is not guaranteed to give them success.(Sun) 
Emmanuel Adebayor claims he wanted to stay at Arsenal but was forced to leave the club and join Manchester City because of financial reasons. (Times) 
Scotland manager George Burley has demanded showdown talks with the Scottish FA after learning that it's bosses will discuss his possible sacking next week and are considering Gordon Strachan and Craig Levein as replacements. (Daily Record) 
Former Rangers and Liverpool manager Graeme Souness says he does not want the job of Scotland's national coach at this stage in his career. (Daily Mail)
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray fears that midfielder Scott Brown might have to undergo another operation on his injured ankle. (The Sun) 
Celtic midfielder Scott Brown may need to rest his injured ankle and will visit a specialist later this month. (Various)
Henry McLeish, who is leading a wide-ranging review of Scottish football, says the government must provide money to improve facilities. (Daily Mail)
Emmanuel Adebayor claims he will not forgive Arsenal fans for the way they have treated him for as long as he lives.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has earmarked Owen Hargreaves for a return to action in early November.(Times) 

.

AND FINALLY

Dimitar Berbatov has revealed chats with his grandad while helping with the gardening back in Bulgaria persuaded him to quit Spurs for Manchester United. "My grandfather is a very wise man and a great man to talk to. When I am home in the summer I will go to his allotment and help him dig. The allotment has been the place for some great chats and it was there where we talked about me moving to a club where I could win major trophies and I asked him what he thought about Manchester United," he said.(The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk

Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is weighing up a move for Russian goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, 23, who currently plays for CSKA Moscow. (The Sun) 
Mexico striker Guillermo Franco, 32, says he is joining West Ham after his deal with Villarreal expired last month and a move to South American champions Estudiantes fell through. (The Sun) 
Hull are giving a trial to former Manchester City defender Glauber Berti, the 26-year-old Brazilian is currently unattached.(Daily Mirror) 
Middlesbrough boss Gareth Southgate is set to launch a £2m bid for Hull striker Caleb Folan, 26. (Daily Star) 
Stoke defender Leon Cort is wanted by Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough and Newcastle. (Daily Mail)
Coventry boss Chris Coleman is battling Championship rivals Swansea and Doncaster to land Wolves' 19-year-old striker Sam Vokes. (Daily Star) 
Sheffield United will move for Ipswich's Northern Ireland centre-half Gareth McAuley, 29, in a long-term loan deal with current Blades centre-back Matt Kilgallon, 25, being targeted by Wigan and Newcastle. (Daily Star)

OTHER GOSSIP

England boss Fabio Capello, who reportedly earns £6m a year, picked up a £1m bonus for guiding England to the World Cup in South Africa. (The Sun) 
And Capello will earn a £2m bonus if England win the World Cup next summer. (The Times) 
Scotland boss George Burley will hold talks with the president of the Scottish FA, George Peat, next week to discuss his future after Scotland failed to qualify for the World Cup. (The Times) 
Meanwhile, Burnley boss Owen Coyle says he has no interest in replacing Burley as Scotland boss. (Daily Express) 
However, three names in the frame for the Scotland job, should Burley get the sack, are Rangers boss Walter Smith, former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan and Dundee United boss Craig Levein.(Daily Record) 
Bryan Robson is being lined up as the next Thailand national team boss to replace Peter Reid, who is Stoke's new assistant manager. (Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, who has been banned for nine months after ephedrine was found in his system, has been nicknamed "Benylin Bill" by his teammates in a bid to cheer him up. (The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk

Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has cast doubt on his future at the Gunners by telling a Spanish radio station he does not know where he will be playing next season. (Daily Mail)
Middlesbrough manager Gareth Southgate is attempting to sign Everton striker James Vaughan on loan. (Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth look to have won the race to sign former Sheffield United striker Danny Webber, who is a free agent. (Daily Mail) 
Former Celtic and Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller is set to join Hibernian this week. (Scottish Sun) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Scotland manager George Burley says he will not quit his job, despite his side's failure to qualify for the World Cup. (Daily Mail) 
Hong Kong billionaire Carson Yeung's proposed takeover of Birmingham City has been delayed until 5 October. (Daily Star) 
Aston Villa may be without defender Curtis Davies until the new year following surgery to cure a shoulder injury. (Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY

Bok of the net! (Daily Mirror), 3 Lions in Africa (Daily Mirror), Get de beers in (The Sun), Ooh-aah Africa! (The Sun), We can win it (Daily Express), Watch out world (Daily Star), World class (Daily Mail) and Job done (The Independent) are some of the newspaper headlines after Fabio Capello's England side secured World Cup qualification on Wednesday night.
www.bbc.co.uk

Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Everton manager David Moyes hopes to outbid Stoke in the battle to sign Cardiff's £6m-rated midfielder Joe Ledley, 22. 
Derby have put a £5m price tag on winger Kris Commons, 25, who is being targeted by Wigan. (Daily Mirror) 
Striker Marlon Harewood is looking for a new club after returning to Aston Villa from his loan spell at Championship winners Wolves, where he failed to score. (Daily Mirror) 
Sunderland are ready to bid £3m for highly-rated Cardiff City defender Roger Johnson. 

OTHER GOSSIP 

Former England manager Steve McClaren, who is currently at the helm of FC Twente, has emerged as the front-runner to become Ajax's new coach following the departure of Marco van Basten on Wednesday. 
Park Ji Sung has been promised a place in Manchester United's line-up for the Champions League final against Barcelona in Rome on 27 May. Park was left out of the squad for United's victory over Chelsea on penalties last year. 
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson will earn a £750,000 bonus from owner Mohamed Al Fayed if he guides the Cottagers into Europe this season. 
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has told England Under-21 manager Stuart Pearce that he wants to play in next month's European Championship in Sweden. 
Newcastle players have backed manager Alan Shearer over his feud with Joey Barton. Shearer has told Barton to stay away from the club until the end of the season. 
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn has rubbished reports that Craig Gordon is not being picked to avoid paying a bonus of £330,000 to Hearts. The keeper has played 49 times for the Black Cats following his £9m move from Hearts and the bonus payment will be triggered when he plays his 50th game. (The Sun) 
Former Cheltenham and Carlisle manager John Ward is favourite to succeed Dean Glover as Port Vale boss. (Daily Star) 
Championship clubs will enjoy a £400,000 windfall following Birmingham's immediate return to the Premier League. By winning promotion at the first attempt, the Blues do not collect their second parachute payment of £11.2m and that money will now be split between the other teams. (Various) 
Scotland boss George Burley believes Uefa should change their rules to prevent the "injustice" of Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher missing the Champions League final. (Daily Record) 
And the Uefa general secretary David Taylor admitted an exception could be made so that Fletcher could play in the final in Rome. (The Sun) 

AND FINALLY 

West Brom supporters are to wear lifelike masks of boss Tony Mowbray in a show of support at the club's final Premier League game this season. Organiser Dean Walton will distribute 1,800 masks to Albion fans travelling to the match at Blackburn. (The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk

Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP 

Wigan are closing in on Ecuador forward Cristian Benitez, with the Santos Laguna striker valued at £7m. (Daily Mirror) 
Benitez's arrival may signal the £17m departure of midfielder Luis Antonio Valencia from the Latics to Manchester United. (Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City are keen to sign Real Madrid's unsettled defender Fabio Cannavaro. (Daily Mirror) 
Ipswich are hopeful of signing Stockport keeper Owain Fon Williams. (Daily Mirror)  

OTHER GOSSIP 

Michael Owen's England future looks to be over, with national boss Fabio Capello preferring Tottenham's Darren Bent ahead of the Newcastle striker. Owen was told he represented Three Lions "history" by boss Capello. (Various) 
England captain John Terry has warned his team-mates to beware of striker Andriy Shevchenko ahead of Wednesday's clash with Ukraine. Terry believes the former Chelsea striker still has something to prove after he failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge. (The Guardian) 
Scotland manager George Burley admits his country's World Cup hopes will be over if they do not beat Iceland at Hampden on Wednesday. (Various) 
Meanwhile, the Scottish FA will move to kill off the notion of a British football team at the 2012 Olympics within the next two months. (Daily Record) 
The SFA's stance also looks set to end their hopes of securing a money-spinning friendly against England. (Daily Mail) 

AND FINALLY 

South Korean electronic giants Samsung claim they are the latest company to be approached by Manchester United, with a view to becoming their next shirt sponsors. Saudi Telecom and Indian companies Sahara and Tata have also made similar claims. (Daily Star)

www.bbc.co.uk  www.thesun.co.uk