Lads can produce malicious gossip (7)
I believe the answer is:
scandal
'malicious gossip' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'lads can produce' is the wordplay.
'produce' indicates an anagram.
'lads'+'can'='ladscan'
'ladscan' with letters rearranged gives 'SCANDAL'.
(Other definitions for scandal that I've seen before include "outrageous behaviour" , "content of 3 [RED TOPS]?" , "Outraging event" , "Malicious gossip" , "dirt" .)