Sunday's Scottish gossip

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic are poised to sign Manchester City striker John Guidetti for £3m in January after the 22-year-old Swede, whose contract ends next summer, impressed on loan with the Scottish champions. (Sunday People, print edition)

Celtic midfielder Stefan Johansen believes in-form, on-loan Manchester City striker wants to remain with the Scottish champions. (The Sun, print edition)

Newcastle United are trying to beat Celtic to the signing of 29-year-old midfielder Lassana Diarra, who is a free agent after leaving Lokomotiv Moscow.(Sunday People)

Ally McCoist has revealed that he would be open to the idea of Newcastle United youngsters arriving on loan as part of Rangers' tie-in with Mike Ashley, the Ibrox manager having watched the Magpies defeat Manchester City in the League Cup in midweek. (Sunday Herald)

Mike Ashley has told Ally McCoist his job as manager is safe after the Newcastle United owner handed a £2m interest-free loan to Rangers. (Sunday Express, print edition)

Questions have been raised over Rangers' commercial deals after it emerged that Sports Direct, headed up by billionaire Mike Ashley, has had effective control of the club's retail operation for nearly two years because of its voting rights over "financial matters". (Sunday Herald)

Lassana Diarra has been linked with Celtic and Newcastle after leaving Lokomotiv Moscow

Rangers manager Ally McCoist has refuted claims from Celtic's Craig Gordon after the goalkeeper said he was never offered a deal to join the Ibrox club, with whom he was training while recovering from injury. (Sunday Mail)

Striker Kris Boyd hopes to sign a new contract with Rangers at the end of his current deal next summer - but only if he is worth it. (The Sun, print edition)

Striker Anthony Stokes has revealed Celtic's players cheered as they were paired with Rangers in an "epic" League Cup semi-final three seasons after the Ibrox club's liquidation forced them to start again in the bottom tier.(Sunday Mail)

Former Celtic, Hibernian and Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller was axed by Australian club Brisbane Roar after refusing to play in a youth team game to gain match fitness. (The Sun, print edition)

Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill will speak this week to his Glasgow-born Everton midfielders, Aiden McGeady and James McCarthy, about the hostile reception they may face in the European Championship qualifier against Scotland in 12 days' time. (Sunday Times, print edition)

St Mirren chairman Stewart Gilmour has rejected claims that the Paisley club are in talks about a takeover by a Dutch and Kuwaiti consortium. (Sunday Mail, print edition)

OTHER GOSSIP

Glasgow Warriors centre Mark Bennett is poised to win his first Scotland cap under his former manager at Clermont Auvergne, Vern Cotter. (Sunday Times)

Golfer Paul Lawrie admits his form has been on a downward spiral since helping Europe win the Ryder Cup in 2012. (Sunday Herald, print edition)