Monday's Gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Queens Park Rangers are preparing an improved £3.25m bid for 31-year-old West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie, who will be fined two weeks' wages by the Baggies after criticising the club on Twitter.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Chelsea made an audacious bid to re-sign Didier Drogba, 34, but the striker turned down their offer and is set to join Turkish side Galatasaray from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.

Full story: the Sun

Norwich are preparing an improved £7m offer for Celtic striker Gary Hooper. The SPL side insist they want £8m for the 25-year-old but Norwich have offered £4.5m.

Full story: Daily Mail

The Canaries and Fulham are both lining up £3m bids for QPR forward Jamie Mackie after the 27-year-old was told he could leave Loftus Road.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Odemwingie has expressed his displeasure after a transfer request was refused by West Brom

Manchester City are expected to announce they have sold striker Mario Balotelli, 22, for about £17m on Monday.

Full story: the Sun

Arsenal are set to step up their chase for Barcelona's David Villa, 31, after manager Arsene Wenger admitted his side are short of fire power.

Full story: Metro

Chelsea are getting ready to make a surprise bid to sign Birmingham City's England Under-21 keeper Jack Butland as a long-term investment.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Everton manager David Moyes will redouble his efforts to bring in a new face before the transfer window closes in order to ease the burden on his squad.

Full story: Daily Mail

OTHER GOSSIP

Paul Dickov is facing the sack just hours after masterminding Oldham's shock FA Cup fourth-round victory over Liverpool.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Huddersfield Town want to interview former Southampton boss Nigel Adkins this week as they step up their search for a new manager, following the sacking of Simon Grayson.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Former Manchester United goalkeeping coach Tony Coton has defended under-fire keeper David de Gea, describing criticism of the Spaniard as "over the top".

Full story: Goal.com

AND FINALLY

A ball-boy was taken off duty at Stoke for hurling a snowball at the driver of the Manchester City team bus.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Arsenal's FA Cup win over Brighton was overshadowed by a fight among Gunners supporters after a fan unfurled a banner calling for Wenger to leave the club.

Full story: Daily Mail