Monday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

For updated transfer news and gossip throughout the day, read our breaking news service Sportsday Live.

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer, 42, plans to open talks with Blackburn Rovers - the club with whom he won the Premier League title as a player in 1995 - about returning as manager.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Hill made 96 appearances for Blackburn as a player before later managing Rochdale and Barnsley

However, the Championship side have identified another former player, 43-year-old Barnsley boss Keith Hill, as an alternative target.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Blackburn number two Eric Black is also said to be in the frame.

Black, 48, will be in charge for this week's matches against Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

Full story: The Sun

Reading's Russian part-owner Anton Zingarevich wants his side to buy compatriot Denis Cheryshev from Real Madrid's second side, the Castilla. Scouts were impressed by the 21-year-old winger when they watched him in action against Barcelona B.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool are interested in Newcastle forward Demba Ba.

Newcastle are said to be unhappy with the 27-year-old's representatives and are reportedly ready to let him go and try their luck with a renewed bid for Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

Full story: Metro

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich tells the club to only offer one-year deals to players over 30, putting midfielder Frank Lampard, 34, and left-back Ashley Cole, 31, in the firing line.

LA Galaxy have shown interest in Lampard, with former Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti keen to lure Cole to Paris Saint-Germain.

Full story: Metro

OTHER GOSSIP

Sunderland right-back Phil Bardsley, 27, will play a behind-closed-doors game this week to prove his fitness after an ankle injury, but centre-back Wes Brown, 32, has picked up a calf problem and remains out of action.

Full story: Sunderland Echo

Manchester City and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, 24, says English players have "a privilege" over foreigners when it comes to the way referees treat them.

Full story: Daily Mail

Middle East company GFH Capital's bid to buy Championship side Leeds United is under threat from a rival American bid.

Full story: Daily Star

Tottenham should take Europa League seriously, says former player Gary Stevens.

"One of the greatest things on my CV as a player is the fact I won the Uefa Cup, as the Europa League used to be called," said the 49-year-old.

Full story: talkSPORT

QPR's Shaun Wright-Phillips wants to keep the pre-match handshakes.

The Football Association are under pressure to scrap the ritual following the controversy involving Wright-Phillips's team-mate Anton Ferdinand and Chelsea captain John Terry last month.

Rangers boss Mark Hughes called for handshakes before a game to be banned.

"It is a really good thing to do, especially when you have kids as mascots right in front of you," said 30-year-old winger Wright-Phillips.

Full story: The Sun

Winger James Forrest says Celtic's reserves would be good enough to go for domestic and Euro glory.

"When everybody's fit we've got two teams who could play on the park and both would do as well," admits the 21-year-old.

Full story: The Scottish Sun

AND FINALLY

South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng, 23, made his Swansea initiation ceremony extra embarrassing by singing into a spoon instead of a microphone.

Full story: Metro