Monday's Scottish Gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Sunderland will increase their £400,000 offer for Dundee United defender John Souttar in the next 24 hours as they seek to beat Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Newcastle United and Swansea City to the 17-year-old's signature.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

Sunderland caretaker manager Kevin Ball thinks Scotland full-back Phil Bardsley, frozen out by the now-sacked Paolo di Canio, will be given a second chance at the club by any new manager.

Full story: Chronicle Live

Under-pressure Manchester United manager David Moyes ignored pleas from predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson to retain his backroom staff at Old Trafford, according to former Reds goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

Full story: The Sun (print edition)

QPR have emerged as favourites ahead of Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough to sign defender Marius Zaliukas, the former Hearts captain having started training with the English Championship leaders after rejecting an offer from Rangers.

Full story: Daily Mirror (print edition)

Shareholders bidding to oust the Rangers board believe that more fan protests like the one at Ibrox on Saturday could persuade undecided investors to overthrow the current regime when it comes up for election at the club's annual meeting.

Full story: Daily Mail (print edition)

James Forrest is poised to return to action against Barcelona after a virus forced the Scotland winger to miss Celtic's Champions League opener against AC Milan and subsequent games.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

Celtic could be handed another Champions League lift with Bojan Krkic suffering a hamstring injury that could keep the Ajax striker out of the Dutch side's trip to Glasgow on 22 October.

Full story: Daily Express (print edition)

Scotland midfielder Shaun Maloney will discover in the next 48 hours if he will miss the final World Cup qualifier against Croatia with a back problem that has sidelined him for two weeks.

Full story: Daily Record (print edition)

St Johnstone defender Steven Anderson could be sidelined for two months after dislocating a thumb in the 1-1 draw with Partick Thistle.

Full story: The Sun

Tim Keyes, head of Texas-based investment group Keyes Capital, has vowed to bring in players in January necessary to help Dundee manager John Brown win promotion to Scotland's Premiership.

Full story: Daily Record

OTHER GOSSIP

Chris Doak was disappointed to slip from ninth to 20th at the Dunhill Links at St Andrews and hopes to secure his European Tour card for next season at the Portugal Masters rather than have to travel to the final tournament of the season in Australia.

Full story: Evening Times