Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are set to make a surprise move for Manchester City defender Micah Richards, if the Eastlands outfit decide to offload the player as a result of his inconsistent form.(Daily Mirror) 
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti says he does not expect to make any new signings in January, unless his side suffers any injuries. This is despite the club having the transfer ban imposed on it by Fifa for inducing Gael Kakuta to break his contract suspended by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.(The Sun) 
Cash-strapped West Ham are ready to offload England goalkeeper Robert Green in January if they receive a bid in the region of £5m.(Daily Mirror) 
Wolves are eyeing up a January move for Aston Villa's £3m-rated England under-21 international midfielder Craig Gardner.(Daily Mirror) 
Arsenal head a clutch of Premier League teams chasing Plymouth's 15-year-old midfield starlet Daniel Hart.(Daily Mirror) 
Everton boss David Moyes is chasing PSV Eindhoven's Serbian striker Danko Lazovic - after giving up on his fellow countryman Milan Jovanovic, who plays for Standard Liege.(Daily Mirror) 
New Portsmouth manager Avram Grant says that he will be searching for new players to help strengthen his side in January and boost their hopes of avoiding relegation this season.(The Guardian) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that striker Didier Drogba, who scored two goals for Chelsea as they beat the Gunners 3-0 on Sunday, actually did very little in the match at the Emirates. (Various)
After Chelsea's victory over Arsenal, which sent the Blues five points clear at the top of the Premier League, captain John Terry declared that his side's performance was "the stuff of champions". (The Sun) 
Kettering Town manager and goalkeeper Lee Harper, whose side earned an FA Cup second-round replay at Leeds following a 1-1 draw with the Yorkshire side on Sunday, will delay retiring from playing in order to help the club try to earn a clash at Manchester United, who await the winner in the third round. (Daily Star)
West Ham striker Carlton Cole's chances of playing for England at the World Cup in South Africa next year have suffered a major blow after it was revealed he suffered knee ligament damage during the Hammers' 5-3 win over Burnley on Saturday and faces at least four months on the sidelines. (The Sun) 
England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup was given a boost on Sunday night when Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pledged his support, saying "It is time for the UK to host it again". (Various)
Hull defender Paul McShane was involved in a tunnel bust-up after his side's 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday as he attempted to get to Craig Bellamy with whom he argued on the pitch just before the final whistle. (The Sun) 
Hull manager Phil Brown says he has made an attempt to tone down his touchline demeanour in order to help his side improve their form. "I'm just conscious of my role," said Brown. "I wouldn't say more conscious, just conscious of my role and the effect it can have."(Daily Mirror) 
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has warned his players they face the axe unless they start to perform against sides below them in the league table. Following losses at Stoke, Burnley and Birmingham this season, the Black Cats fell to a 1-0 defeat to Wigan on Saturday. (The Sun) 
Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini has insisted he is happy to stay at the club and to prove his loyalty he has revealed that the club received offers for him in the summer but he stayed in order to help United return to the Premier League. (Daily Star) 

AND FINALLY

Ipswich manager Roy Keane says that a trip to see the Australian rugby union team beat Wales 33-12 at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday helped inspire his side to their 2-1 victory at Cardiff on Sunday. (Daily Mirror)
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