Monday's gossip column: Xavi, Keane, Mourinho, Balotelli, Sottil, Hysaj

Football gossip

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)external-link

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)external-link

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) external-link

Manchester United are considering whether to introduce safe standing at Old Trafford. (Mail)external-link

Everton manager Marco Silva has told his scouts to carry out another extensive check of RB Leipzig's Denmark striker Yussuf Poulsen, 25. (Express)external-link

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho says the team are "worse" now than when he was sacked last December. (Times - subscription required)external-link

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)external-link

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)external-link

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)external-link

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle says he is living in "extra time" after his life was saved following a cardiac arrest last year. (Mirror)external-link

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)external-link

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)external-link

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The front page of the Daily Telegraph sport section

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