TRANSFER RUMOURS
Michael Ballack's Chelsea future is uncertain after he was left out of their 25-man squad for the Champions League. (The Sun)
Reading will offer Nicky Shorey the biggest pay deal in the club's history to stop him joining West Ham in the next transfer window. (Daily Mirror)
Celtic and Southampton are tracking Colchester's Cameroon-born defender George Elokobi. (Daily Star)
After completing the signing of Jay-Jay Okocha, Hull will turn their attentions to a loan move for Wigan's Fitz Hall. (The Sun)
Ipswich are planning a loan move for Aston Villa defender Stephen O'Halloran, 19. (Daily Star)
Leeds want to sign Sunderland exile Graham Kavanagh on loan. (Various)
Leeds have signed Portuguese winger Filipe Da Costa from Greek side Lonikos on a free, though he is waiting international clearance. (Daily Star)
Bolton's Ivan Campo has snubbed a loan move to Sheffield United. (The Sun)
Norwich have taken ex-Cameroon international Lucien Mettomo on trial at Carrow Road. (Daily Star)
Wolves keeper Graham Stack has had his loan deal from Reading extended for a further four months. (Independent)
OTHER GOSSIP
Steve McClaren will not quit as England manager, even if they lose their crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia. (The Sun)
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has pleaded with McClaren not to pump Steven Gerrard with painkillers to try and save England's campaign. (Daily Star)
Russia coach Guus Hiddink claims England are scared to win - and says they massively underachieved at the last two World Cups. (Daily Mirror)
Lithuainia coach Algimantas Luibanskas has revealed he did not know Alex McLeish was Scotland boss ahead of Saturday's crunch Euro 2008 tie. (Daily Record)
Manchester United will extend Ryan Giggs' contract for another year to take him through to the end of next season. (The Sun)
Robbie Savage has branded Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal players "hypocrites" for complaining about Blackburn's physical style of play. (Daily Mirror)
Boss John Toshack has warned Sunderland defender Danny Collins he may never play for Wales again after withdrawing from the squad with a ankle injury. (The Sun)
Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric will make a shock move for Coventry's Iain Dowie as their new manager. (Various)
Rafa Benitez will not replace his departing assistant manager Paco Ayestaran. (Daily Telegraph)
Peter Schmeichel has failed in his bid to take over Danish club Brondby. (The Sun)
Scunthorpe want to give manager Nigel Adkins an improved contract to keep him at Glanford Park. (Daily Star)
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has killed off speculation linking him with the vacant Leicester job. (Daily Record)
AND FINALLY
Joleon Lescott thought a load of missed calls on his mobile on Monday were from Everton telling him he had missed training - not telling him he was in the England squad. (The Sun)
Middlesbrough estimate that at least 60 pubs on Teesside show their home matches live, and illegally, on Saturday afternoons. They claim this affects attendances more than tickets prices. (Times)
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~35~RS~)