Sunday's gossip column - transfers and rumours

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Roberto Mancini has warned his Premier League title rivals that Manchester City intend to keep spending in the transfer market.
Fernando Llorente
Fernando Llorente: Spanish striker has less than a year left on his current contract.
Tottenham and Liverpool are leading the chase for Malaga striker Isco, but Arsenal, Man United and Juventus are also tracking the 20-year-old.
Arsenal have joined Manchester City and Chelsea in the race to sign Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente, 27, after the Spaniard stalled over agreeing a new deal.
Juventus are said to be keen on bringing Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, 22, back to Italy in a £25m deal next January.
Nigel Adkins has refused to give Kelvin Davis any assurances about his Southampton future after dropping the 35-year-old goalkeeper for the 4-1 win against Aston Villa.
Paul Lambert wants to bring out-of-favour Newcastle midfielder Dan Gosling, 22, to Villa Park for around £2m in the January transfer window.

OTHER GOSSIP

Former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has said it is only a matter of time until he returns to manage in the Premier League.
Tottenham hope to appoint former England number two Franco Baldini as director of football to work alongside Andre Villas-Boas.
Steve Clarke defended his decision to drop West Brom's leading scorer Shane Long after seeing his replacement, Romelu Lukaku, score the winner against Reading.
Darren Ferguson has vowed not to walk away from Peterborough United despite his side slumping to the bottom of the Championship after losing to Wolves for their seventh successive defeat.

AND FINALLY

Birmingham City manager Lee Clark has made a public apology after his side's humiliating 5-0 defeat at home to Barnsley.