Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours
- From the section Football
TRANSFER GOSSIP
For updated transfer news and gossip throughout the day, read our breaking news service Sportsday Live.
Manchester United are keeping an eye on Marouane Fellaini's situation at Everton after the Belgian midfielder, 24, was quoted as saying that he would spend just another year at Goodison.
However, Chelsea are set to test Everton's resolve over hanging on to Fellaini with a £30m bid for the player.
Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, 20, says the club's players were disappointed that no-one was brought in to replace striker Andy Carroll, who moved to West Ham on loan, before the end of the summer transfer window.
Everton manager David Moyes has revealed he wanted Demba Ba, 27, last summer before the striker joined Newcastle.
OTHER GOSSIP
Striker Didier Drogba, 34, says he blacked out in the immediate aftermath of sealing Chelsea's Champions League win on penalties in May.
Michael Owen could make a return for England if the 32-year-old striker can start finding the net for new club Stoke.
Anton Ferdinand is considering taking a civil action against John Terry should the Chelsea defender escape serious punishment from the forthcoming FA inquiry into his alleged racial abuse.
Everton defender Leighton Baines, 27, will remember the 96 Liverpool fans killed in the Hillsborough disaster when he features for the Toffees against Newcastle on Monday evening.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has taunted Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini by claiming the Premier League champions will never be as big as the Spanish side ahead of their Champions League clash at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso, 30, says Real Madrid must end their 10-year wait for a Champions League title this season.
Reading skipper Jobi McAnuff, 30, has called for football's top stars to have their wages capped, saying that huge salaries are contributing to families being priced out of watching football and youngsters becoming money-obsessed.
Reading manager Brian McDermott is not interested in personal acclaim despite his good work with the Premier League side.
Benfica defender Luisao could yet still play against Celtic in their Champions League group opener in Glasgow as the Portuguese could appeal against a two-month ban for pushing a referee in a pre-season friendly.
Scotland coach Craig Levein has repeated his view that Jordan Rhodes is not yet ready to start at international level, despite the striker's double in Blackburn Rovers' 5-3 win over Bristol City.
Rangers manager and former Scotland striker Ally McCoist thinks Craig Levein is right to introduce Jordan Rhodes gradually into the Scotland starting line-up.
Craig Levein says his wife, Carol, cannot eat or sleep properly because of the pain she feels at the flak he receives as Scotland coach.
AND FINALLY
A Truro City supporter discovered the extent of his club's financial woes when he was begged to return a goalkeeper's shirt so that they would not have to buy a new one.