Monday's Gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Stoke will hold out for £15m from Manchester United for 25-year-old goalkeeper Asmir Begovic this summer.

Asmir Begovic has kept nine clean sheets in the Premier League this season

Full story: Daily Mirror

Manchester City will put the money they received for striker Mario Balotelli, 22, towards a summer signing of either Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 27, or Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, 26.

Full story: Metro

Newcastle are set to renew their interest in on-loan Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, 24, in the summer, when he returns to Merseyside from West Ham.

Full story: Newcastle Chronicle

OTHER GOSSIP

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is ready to return to Chelsea to replace under-pressure interim manager Rafa Benitez.

Full story: the Sun

Benitez's future at the club could be in doubt if the Blues fail to beat Wigan this weekend.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Queens Park Rangers chairman Tony Fernandes has defended the club's spending in the January transfer window and denied he acted recklessly.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Rickie Lambert has scored 11 times for Southampton this season

And QPR boss Harry Redknapp insists his January spending will not put the club's future in jeopardy.

Full story: the Independent

Tottenham are worried that striker Jermain Defoe, 30, could be out for up to two months with ankle ligament damage suffered in their win over West Brom on Sunday.

Full story: Daily Mirror

England manager Roy Hodgson could be forced to call up more strikers for Wednesday's friendly against Brazil because of Defoe's injury.

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

Southampton striker Rickie Lambert, 30, has revealed his disappointment at missing out on an England call-up for the Brazil game.

Full story: skysports.com

Swansea striker Michu, 26, insists he will not dwell on his omission from the Spain squad to face Uruguay in Doha this week.

Full story: Western Mail

Birmingham boss Lee Clark has backed up West Ham owner David Sullivan's claim that agents are out of control.

Full story: Daily Mail

Kris Commons, 29, is at the centre of a penalty storm after Raith defender Simon Mensing accused the winger of being "clever" to win a spot-kick in Celtic's Scottish Cup win at Stark's Park.

Full story: the Scotsman

AND FINALLY

West Brom outcast Peter Odemwingie, 31, apologised on Twitter for team-mate Goran Popov, 28, after the defender was shown a red card for spitting at Tottenham's 22-year-old full-back Kyle Walker.

Full story: Daily Mirror