Monday's gossip column: Xavi, Keane, Mourinho, Balotelli, Sottil, Hysaj
Last updated on .From the section Football
Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi, who is boss of Qatari side Al-Sadd, says it would not be a problem for him to manage former team-mates such as Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets at the Nou Camp. (Ara - in Spanish)
Tottenham sent a scout to watch Fiorentina's Italy Under-21 winger Riccardo Sottil as they step up their interest in the 20-year-old. (Express)
Chelsea's chances of signing Napoli right-back Elseid Hysaj next summer may have been reduced by the Serie A club being ready to offer the 25-year-old Albanian a contract extension. (Express)
Manchester United are considering whether to introduce safe standing at Old Trafford. (Mail)
Everton manager Marco Silva has told his scouts to carry out another extensive check of RB Leipzig's Denmark striker Yussuf Poulsen, 25. (Express)
Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says the team are "worse" now than when he was sacked last December. (Times - subscription required)
Meanwhile, ex-United midfielder Roy Keane was "shocked and saddened" by how bad his former side were in their 2-0 defeat at West Ham on Sunday. (Sky Sports, via Evening Standard)
The Premier League is being urged to investigate revelations that Liverpool paid a £1m settlement to Manchester City in 2013 after a complaint the reigning champions' scouting system was hacked. (Times - subscription required)
Inter Milan's 26-year-old striker Romelu Lukaku, who joined the Italian outfit from Manchester United in the summer, says the Serie A club's coach Antonio Conte is someone who "helps me every day and gives me motivation". (Metro)
Former England manager Glenn Hoddle says he is living in "extra time" after his life was saved following a cardiac arrest last year. (Mirror)
About 1,000 Valencia fans protested against owner Peter Lim, who co-owns Salford City, and president Anil Murthy before their La Liga game against Leganes. (Marca)
Italy striker Mario Balotelli, who could make his Brescia debut against Juventus on Tuesday, says he has "worked harder in the last month and a half" than "in a decade of my career", as the 29-year-old targets a place in his country's squad for Euro 2020. (Football Italia)
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