Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Derby County boss Nigel Clough wants to sign Welsh right-back Ryan Shotton on loan from Stoke City.(Daily Mirror) 
Sheffield United are set to hold talks with French winger Fabrice Pancrate, who is a free agent after leaving Paris St Germain.(Daily Mirror) 
Portsmouth and Notts County are battling it out to sign former Manchester City defender Michael Ball, who is without a club after being released by the Eastlands club in July.(Daily Mail) 
Newcastle are set to sign Aston Villa striker Marlon Harewood on loan for three months as replacement for Shola Ameobi, who has a broken foot.(Daily Mail) 
Coventry are lining up a loan move for out-of-favour Sunderland striker David Healy.Daily Mail 

OTHER GOSSIP

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker will face boss Martin O'Neill on Monday to find out if he still has a future with the club following their training ground bust-up last week. (Daily Star)
Another Villa player hoping for good news regarding his future is winger Stewart Downing, who will today have an operation to remove a pin from his broken foot and is targeting a return to action in November.(Daily Mail) 
The Football League has confirmed they are looking into the recent takeover of Notts County by Munto Finance and said: "We have received fit and proper persons documentation. Discussions are ongoing with regard to the club's ownership structure."(The Sun) 
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes sides are getting away with cynical fouls against his side and has urged the FA to investigate the matter. (Daily Star) 
Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres has declared that he wants to face club-mate and England midfielder Steven Gerrard in next summer's World Cup final.(Independent) 
Burnley midfielder Chris McCann is set for scan on the knee he damaged against Sunderland on Saturday and could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines.(Daily Mirror) 
Former skipper Gary McAllister is expected to replace Steven Pressley in George Burley's Scotland coaching set-up.(Herald)

AND FINALLY

Bolton were only able to complete the season-long loan signing of striker Ivan Klasnic from Nantes with the help of his wife's German passport. The Croatian was born in Germany but opted to represent Croatia and as such does not have a passport for the former. Unfortunately, he has not played the required number of games for his adopted country but the Trotters got round the problem by flying in his wife.(Daily Mirror) 
Newcastle defender Steven Taylor has revealed the reason behind his X-Factor sign celebration on Saturday. He has been receiving stick from his team-mates for his white teeth, which they say make him look like Simon Cowell.(Daily Mail)
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