Scottish Gossip: Celtic, Murray, Djokovic, Barcelona, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Crystal Palace

FOOTBALL GOSSIP

Celtic could secure the January transfer of out-of-favour midfielder Jordan Mutch from Crystal palace for a cut-price £2.5m.(Daily Record)

Celtic are preparing a £3.5m January transfer bid for 24-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder Jordan Mutch. (Daily Mail)

Midfielder Sergio Busquets marked his 400th appearance for Barcelona by criticising his team-mates for their worst start to the season for 13 years following their 0-0 draw at home to Malaga ahead of Wednesday's trip to face Celtic. (The Sun, print edition)

Lionel Messi will learn on Monday if he can travel to face Celtic in the Champions League after the Argentine midfielder missed Saturday's 0-0 draw with Malaga with a sickness bug. (Daily Record, print edition)

Winger Scott Sinclair believes that Celtic have learned their lesson from the 7-0 thrashing in Spain and will not go into Wednesday's Champions League match against Barcelona with any fear.(Daily Record)

Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday has not given up hope of the Ibrox side catching Celtic in the Scottish title race despite being 11 points adrift of the reigning champions. (Daily Express)

Midfielder Andy Halliday says the fear of losing motivates Rangers more than the joy of winning.(Daily Record)

Lionel Messi (right) is a doubt for Barcelona against Celtic

Aberdeen midfielder Kenny McLean has scoffed at suggestions that Scottish League Cup final rivals Celtic are unbeatable against domestic rivals. (The Herald)

Former Rangers and Scotland central defender Kirk Broadfoot is no nearer a return to action with Rotherham United and the English Championship club hope that a series of injections will allow the 32-year-old to overcome a back injury that has ruled him out since the opening game of the season. (The Sun, print edition)

Darren McGregor has laughed off talk of a Scotland call-up, insisting he is "miles away" from Gordon Strachan's squad, after the central defender helped Hibernian consolidate their lead in the Scottish Championship. (The Scotsman)

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes says he is mystified why Gordon Strachan continues to overlook Charlie Adam but fears the midfielder will not return to the Scotland squad now that the head coach has been given the go-ahead to continue in post. (The Sun, print edition)

Hearts defender Liam Smith is not in a hurry to see Callum Paterson, who could be sold in January, leave Hearts so he can win his place in the team because he is learning from the Scotland right-back. (The Scotsman)

OTHER GOSSIP

Andy Murray is planning the "best years" of his career after beating Novak Djokovic to win the ATP World Tour final and confirm his status as world number one at the end of the tennis season.(The Herald)

Novak Djokovic, who has hinted at private difficulties in his relationship with his wife, Jelena, this season, says Kim Murray deserves as much praise as husband Andy for making the Scots world number one. (The Herald)

Following Saturday's 19-16 win over Argentina at Murrayfield, Scotland will rise to seventh place when the World Rugby rankings are confirmed on Monday, having sealed a precious victory in the race for World Cup seeding.(The Scotsman)