Football rumours from today's newspapers

• Tottenham midfielder Gareth Bale was the subject of a "big-money" bid over the summer, according to Wales manager John Toshack.
  (The Mirror)


• Spartak Moscow are ready to offer Yuri Zhirkov a route out of Chelsea after Russia coach Dick Advocaat warned the defender he must be playing regular football to feature for his country.
  (Daily Mail)


• Former England Under-21 defender Chris Riggott, who was released by Middlesbrough in the summer, is having a trial at Cardiff.
  (Daily Mail)


• Tottenham have been told to make a "better offer" for SuperSport United's South Africa international defender Bongani Khumalo.
  (Daily Mail)


• Tottenham keeper Carlo Cudicini could be loaned out to a Championship club when the window opens on Tuesday for Football League clubs. The 36-year-old is third choice at Spurs and Middlesbrough are monitoring the situation.
  (Talksport)


• Nigerian defender Danny Shittu, 30, could get the chance to reboot his career with a move to Celtic after being released by Bolton.
  (Daily Record)


• England fly-half Danny Cipriani has thrown his rugby union future into doubt after travelling to the United States for a trial with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.
  (The Times)

OTHER GOSSIP

• Former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier is set for a dramatic return to English football with Aston Villa after holding talks with the club's owner Randy Lerner.
  (Daily Mail)


• But former England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been ruled out of the running for the vacant managerial post at Villa Park.
  (The Sun)


• Defender Jamie Carragher can savour the prospect of at least another three seasons at Anfield after opening talks on a new Liverpool contract.
  (Daily Mail)


• Blackburn striker Benjani Mwaruwari claims there is 'no trust' at his old club Manchester City and that some of their players are motivated primarily by money.
  (Daily Telegraph)