Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Everton have joined the race for Middlesbrough's £6m-rated winger Adam Johnson.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City striker David Ball is wanted on loan by injury-hit Championship side Sheffield United.(Daily Mirror) 
Former Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will put Huddersfield keeper Alex Smithies at the top of his wish-list when he takes over as boss of Middlesbrough.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester United right-back Danny Simpson, who is on loan at Newcastle United, is ready to quit Old Trafford.(Daily Mirror) 
Manchester City face competition for Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, with the former Arsenal star also wanted by Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls.(Daily Mirror) 
Coventry's number two keeper Dimi Konstantopoulos says he may seek a loan move away from the Ricoh Arena if his lack of match action continues. (Daily Telegraph) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has revealed that it was only on the team coach going to Anfield that he decided to use Spanish striker Fernando Torres from the start against Manchester United. (Daily Mirror) 
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp blamed suspended Jermain Defoe for his side's defeat to Stoke, saying the in-form striker would have made the difference on Saturday. (The Sun) 
Portsmouth manager Paul Hart says he will be responsible for improving the club's fortunes over the coming months and not new director of football Avram Grant.(Daily Express) 
Meanwhile, Portsmouth have received a £15m 'loan' from Israeli property developer Levi Kushnir as new owner Ali Al-Faraj attempts to restructure the club financially.(The Sun) 

AND FINALLY

Football could be heading for a swine flu crisis after Blackburn stars David Dunn and Chris Samba were diagnosed with the virus. (Daily Mirror) 
Millwall have vowed to ban for life the fan who taunted Leeds United supporters by wearing a Galatasaray shirt during Saturday's League One match. Two Leeds fans were stabbed to death the day before the Uefa Cup semi-final against the Turkish club in 2000.(The Sun)
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