Scottish Gossip: Dundee Utd chase Eremenko, Celtic send Christie to specialist

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Dundee United manager Mixu Paatelainen is trying to tempt former Kilmarnock midfielder Alexei Eremenko to sign at Tannadice, with the 32-year-old looking for another club after Jaro were relegated from the top flight in their Finnish homeland.(Daily Record)

After fellow striker Mario Bilate agreed a deal to exit Dundee United last week, the Tannadice club have told summer signing Darko Bodul he will be allowed to leave if he can find another club. The 26-year-old Austrian has yet to score in 11 appearances after arriving from Rheindorf Altach. (The Courier)

Gavin Gunning has agreed a contract until the end of the season to return to Dundee United, the 24-year-old Irish defender having been released by Oldham Athletic after playing one game for the English League One outfit. (The Sun, print edition)

Former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool striker Florent Sinama Pongolle believes he can help Dundee United off the bottom of the Scottish Premiership should the 31-year-old, who was released by Lausanne in the summer, win a contract at Tannadice. (The Sun, print edition)

Alexei Eremenko, who had two spells in Scotland with Kilmarnock, is being linked with Dundee United

Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima's work permit application has yet to be processed and the new Dundee United signing might not be available for Saturday's game against St Johnstone.(The Courier)

Dundee United goalkeeper Josh Donaldson is currently on trial with Arsenal, with Manchester City also closely monitoring the 15-year-old's development. (Daily Record)

Being accused of spitting at St Johnstone teenager Neil Martyniuk during an under-20 game is the reason Inverness Caledonian Thistle have suspended 30-year-old striker Dani Lopez. (The Sun)

Celtic will send Ryan Christie to see a top knee specialist after the 20-year-old midfielder was injured against Motherwell while on loan back to former club Inverness Caledonian Thistle. (Daily Express)

Jozo Simunovic's agent says the Celtic defender knows nothing about investigations at former club Dinamo Zagreb, who sold the 21-year-old in the summer, after five people were arrested by anti-corruption officers in Croatia.(Daily Express)

Recent Celtic signing Carlton Cole's younger brother, 18-year-old striker Ivan, could make his debut for Stirling Albion against Queen's Park on Saturday. (The Herald)

Celtic defender Efe Ambrose has banked a £13,000 reward for his goal for Nigeria against Swaziland, the 27-year-old's superb volley securing a 2-0 win on Tuesday night to send the Super Eagles into the group stage of African qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.(The Scotsman)

Aston Villa's Alan Hutton is the best British right back, according to French news outlet L'Equipe, which chose the 30-year-old as the only Scot in a Great British XI and ahead of Tottenham Hostpur's Kyle Walker and Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne. (The Scotsman)

Matt Ritchie is being linked with a number of top-flight English clubs

West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and West Ham United have joined the list of top-flight clubs showing interest in 26-year-old Bournemouth and Scotland winger Matt Ritchie.(Daily Mail)

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe says he would not welcome a bid from English Premier League rivals Manchester United for Scotland winger Matt Ritchie. (Daily Mirror)

Steve Clarke, presently manager of Reading, is poised to be named the new boss of English Championship rivals Fulham.(The Guardian)

David Moyes could be interested in taking over as Leeds United manager - if tycoon Steve Parkin completes his takeover at Elland Road - after the Scot was sacked by Real Sociedad last week. (Daily Mirror)

Scotland hammered the Republic of Ireland 4-0 in Limerick to clinch qualification for next year's Euro Under-19 Elite Round.(The Scotsman)

Partick Thistle general manager Ian Maxwell says that it is time for the club to assess its position within Scottish football, saying the Glasgow outfit should be aiming to compete at the top end of the Premiership after last week's deal that left the club debt-free. (The Herald)

OTHER GOSSIP

Andrew McArthur is hoping to join the likes of Mark O'Meara, Jimmy Walker, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jason Dufner as one of golf's late bloomers after securing a full European Tour card for the first time at 36. (The Scotsman)

Andrew McArthur has revealed that he was on the verge of quitting golf last year because of money concerns but will return to the main European Tour after a gap of five years. (Daily Express, print edition)

Jonah Lomu, the former New Zealand winger who died on Tuesday, was the Lionel Messi of rugby according to former Barbarians team-mate Kenny Logan. (Daily Record)