Wednesday's gossip column: Football transfers & rumours

For a list of confirmed transfers, check out our transfers page.

For breaking transfer news, follow Sportsday Live every weekday.

GARETH BALE GOSSIP

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy values Real Madrid target Gareth Bale, 24, at a "staggering" £125m.

Full story: the Sun

Bale's future is in turmoil after it emerged the Welshman is reluctant to risk his relationship with Tottenham fans by handing in a transfer request.

Full story: Daily Mail

Zinedine Zidane, Real Madrid's sporting director, has told Tottenham to let Bale hold talks with them.

Tottenham want Luka Modric as part of any deal that will see Gareth Bale join Real Madrid

Full story: Daily Star

Tottenham will reluctantly agree to sell Bale to Real as long as Luka Modric is included in what would be a world-record transfer deal.

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

Levy hopes that his demands of £100m in cash for the club's star player will be enough to ward off Real Madrid's advances - particularly as the Spanish club still owe money on last summer's purchase of Modric from Spurs.

Full story: London Evening Standard

Former Liverpool striker Ian Rush, who had a failed spell at Juventus, believes Bale would be wise to stay at Spurs until he is 28.

Full story: Daily Telegraph

Tottenham could stun north London rivals Arsenal by entering the race for Liverpool's 26-year-old striker Luis Suarez, should Bale complete his move to Real Madrid.

Full story: Metro

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Chelsea could take advantage of Real Madrid's pursuit of Bale with a £20m offer for 26-year-old Germany midfielder Sami Khedira.

Full story: Metro

Arsenal will have to pay £55m if they still want Suarez after the striker dropped his pursuit of arbitration as a means of leaving for less.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Suarez has not requested Premier League intervention in his contract dispute with Liverpool, one week on from Arsenal's club record bid of £40m plus £1 for the Uruguay international.

Full story: the Guardian

Tottenham target Roberto Soldado's prospective move to White Hart Lane may not be as close to completion as first thought, with the 28-year-old striker keeping quiet over his future.

Full story: Metro

Joey Barton is keen to join Everton and is willing to take a big pay cut to make it happen

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton, 30, wants to play for his beloved Everton - and will take a 50% pay cut to make the move happen.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Liverpool face fierce competition from Borussia Dortmund for the signature of 23-year-old Rubin Kazan forward Salomon Rondon.

Full story: Daily Express

Everton are preparing a £15m offer for Wigan star James McCarthy even after being told the midfielder, 22, will not be allowed to leave for less than £20m.

Full story: Daily Star

Newcastle are intensifying their efforts to secure QPR striker Loic Remy, 26, on a season-long loan deal after being deterred from a move for Lyon forward Bafetimbi Gomis by the French club's demands for a fee in excess of £6.9m for the 27-year-old.

Full story: Chronicle Live

West Ham are still in the market to sign Udinese forward Matej Vydra, 21, as they look to solve their striking problems.

Full story: Metro

Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio plans to make Panathinaikos winger Charis Mavrias, 19, his 10th summer signing.

Full story: the Sun

Cardiff are bidding £8m for Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, 21.

Full story: Daily Mail

Striker Fernando Torres, 29, could be offered an exit from Chelsea after Valencia showed interest.

Full story: the Times (subscription required)

OTHER GOSSIP

Former England manager Fabio Capello has warned that the Three Lions will never win the World Cup - because the players are always "running on empty" after a long season with no winter break.

Full story: Daily Mirror

Papiss Cisse scored eight Premier League goals last season

Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse wore the 'Wonga' strip for the first time as he started and scored in the pre-season friendly at St Mirren.

Full story: Daily Mail

GLOBAL GOSSIP

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has denied any interest in Chelsea's David Luiz, 26. "He will not come to Munich. The speculation is not true," the Spaniard said.

Full story: Sueddeutsche (German)

Real Madrid have made contact with representatives of Sevilla's Geoffrey Kondogbia, 20, but are yet to make an offer for the Frenchman.

Full story: Marca (Spanish)

Argentina international Fernando Gago, 27, has completed a move from Valencia to Boca Juniors, the club where he started his professional career.

Full story: Clarin (Spanish)

Standard Liege have signed Wigan defender Ronnie Stam, 29, and goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien, 24, from Belgian side Troyes.

Full story: Le Soir (French)

AND FINALLY

Liverpool have given staff a list of unacceptable words and phrases such as 'don't be a woman' and 'play like a girl' in a bid to cut out discrimination at Anfield.

Full story: the Guardian

Former England midfielder David Beckham was offered a game of paper, scissors, stone by old pal Cristiano Ronaldo as he dropped in on Real Madrid training in Los Angeles.

Full story: Metro