tittle-tattle

But such tittle-tattle was the lifeblood of Italian football and he was bullish, saying Lentini - living his boyhood dream and contracted to June 1995 - wasn't for sale.

President Putin recently dismissed the suggestion as "utter nonsense, drivel and politically-motivated tittle-tattle."

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said claims Russia is withholding gas to put pressure on Germany over Nord Stream 2 are "complete rubbish... and politically motivated tittle-tattle".

It's narrated by the mysterious Lady Whistledown, who writes regular newsletters full of tittle-tattle about the dating exploits of high society.

Actual football looks unlikely for a little while so, in the meantime, lose yourself in the underworld of meaningless tittle-tattle: