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          Transfer Talk: Gareth Bale's Tottenham return won't depend on wages

          • ESPN staffMay 30, 2018, 12:23 AM

          The transfer window is open, and Transfer Talk has the latest rumours making the rounds. Follow live with our daily blog throughout the summer.

          Spurs ready to launch big Bale bid

          Tottenham could make an "audacious" attempt to bring Gareth Bale back to the club from Real Madrid, according to the Independent.

          With Bale's agent due to hold talks with Madrid officials in the coming days, Spurs are keeping tabs on the situation, with the Wales international "open to a return and willing to make compromises on financial demands."

          That could put Spurs ahead of Manchester United, long seen as a potential destination if Bale leaves the Bernabeu -- but the report says an exit "is by no means certain, since he is a favourite of Madrid president Florentino Perez."

          And in Spain, AS says United are readying a bid for Madrid's Champions League final hero and will offer more than £120 million for him.

          LIVE BLOG

          23.03 BST: That's going to bring to a close Wednesday's live edition of Transfer Talk. Thanks very much for joining us, and be sure to check back in a few short hours when we return with the latest gossip plucked from Thursday morning's back pages.

          22.36 BST: Italian transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio reports that 19-year-old Netherlands international Justin Kluivert has agreed personal terms with Roma, following a meeting with sporting director Monchi, but that the Giallorossi must still come to an agreement with Ajax, who are demanding as much as €20m

          22.09 BST: Liverpool's signing of Fabinho may wind up costing Everton. TalkSPORT cites Portuguese outlet A Bola as reporting that Monaco's sale of the Brazilian has them in the market for a holding midfielder, and they're interested in Sporting's William Carvalho -- the man the Toffees had been targeting. The Lisbon club reportedly would accept an offer of £25m for the 26-year-old, but could a bidding war be about to begin?

          21.42 BST: Even though Robert Lewandowski has reportedly told Bayern Munich he wants to leave the club this summer, the German giants are adamant they will not sell the Poland international striker, writes the Telegraph.

          21.15 BST: It's a DONE DEAL! Newcastle have completed the permanent signing of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka from Sparta Prague. Full story.

          20.48 BST: Arsenal have offered Aaron Ramsey a new five-year contract, the Telegraph writes, and if the 27-year-old fails to sign it, he'll be sold this summer.

          20.21 BST: As Everton contemplate a replacement for Leighton Baines, Crystal Palace's Patrick van Aanholt is intriguing the Toffees, according to the Mail.

          19.54 BST: Thirty-four-year-old free-agent defender Stephan Lichtsteiner will join Arsenal on a one-year contract after seven seasons with Juventus, Gazzetta dello Sport reports.

          19.27 BST: The race to sign Nice forward Mario Balotelli, who has a €10 million release clause, is on. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Italian international's agent Mino Raiola has opened negotiations with Roma and Napoli, and a host of other clubs are interested in taking on the 27-year-old striker, including Marseille, Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Genoa and Parma.

          19.00 BST: Christian Pulisic's father says speculation the young American star could move to the Premier League is "hogwash," and told Sky Sports his son plans to return to Borussia Dortmund -- at least for next season. Full story.

          18.33 BST: Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic was reportedly in talks with Juventus to extend his contract more than a year ago, but no new deal was agreed. Now, Calciomercato cites Tuttosport as reporting, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid are interested in signing the €60m-rated 28-year-old.

          18.06 BST: Former England captain John Terry will leave Aston Villa this summer, the Championship club announced on Wednesday. Full story.

          17.39 BST: It's a DONE DEAL! RB Leipzig have confirmed the signing of 20-year-old Montpellier defender Nordi Mukiele on a five-year contract.

          17.12 BST: We now have the English press finally wading in on the Jorginho to Man City stories!

          The Times say a £42 million deal is likely to go through next week.

          17.00 BST: Real Sociedad defender Alvaro Odriozola is ignoring speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid.

          Odriozola is part of Spain's World Cup squad and could now start at right-back following an injury to Madrid's Dani Carvajal in the Champions League final.

          16.50 BST: Yesterday, Turkish media dashed hopes of clubs in their country signing Stoke's Xherdan Shaqiri, linking him with a move to Tottenham.

          Today, Swiss outlet Blick add the winger's future could be sorted before the start of the World Cup.

          16.20 BST: Raheem Sterling may be front page on these shores for little to no good reason, but over in Portugal, another England international is claiming the headlines.

          Record are reporting on Sporting's interest in Joe Hart, who could replace Napoli-bound Rui Patricio.

          16.10 BST: While it looks like the transfer of Jorginho is a foregone conclusion, Pep Guardiola has ruled out the signing of Isco.

          When quizzed on the subject, Guardiola simply replied with, "City aren't going to sign Isco."

          Whatever you say, Pep.

          16.00 BST: Sky are reporting Manchester United's interest in West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic...

          15.55 BST: Arsenal's imminent signing of Borussia Dortmund defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos will prompt the German club to join the race for Ajax captain Matthijs De Ligt, say sportBILD. The 18-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Tottenham as a replacement for Toby Alderweireld.

          15.40 BST: The Italian media do love the transfer window -- Corriere dello Sport reckon Gianluigi Buffon will sign a two-year-contract at Paris Saint-Germain in the near future.

          15.15 BST: Sky in Italy believe that Emre Can will finalise his free transfer to Juventus later this week.

          Can was reportedly subject to late interest from Tottenham, but it appears his long-awaited move to Turin will finally transpire.

          15.00 BST: Meanwhile, in Manchester City's pursuit of Jorginho, the Napoli midfielder's agent has been speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, and is putting some pressure on Napoli to sell up...

          14.30 BST: Wilfried Zaha will be offered a new contract at Crystal Palace in an attempt to keep the interest of Tottenham and Chelsea at bay, The Guardian report.

          14.00 BST: Over in Italy, Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport believe that Maurizio Sarri is already lining up transfer targets ahead of a reported move to Chelsea.

          They reckon he will make strong approaches for Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain and Inter captain Mauro Icardi.

          13.50 BST: AS are reporting that Sergio Aguero is ready to quit Manchester City and return to Atletico Madrid.

          Could a strike partnership of Aguero and Diego Costa -- possibly two of the best Premier League strikers this decade -- be enough to topple Real Madrid and Barcelona's duopoly again?

          13.45 BST: Thiago Motta has said Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos would be an ideal signing for Paris Saint-Germain as they restructure their midfield. Motta ended his playing career at PSG and will take over as coach of the under-19s side.

          13.15 BST: Back to Manchester, where the Manchester Evening News, citing sources in Italy, says City "are set to clinch a £42 million deal for Napoli kingpin Jorginho." The report says the Premier League champions have agreed personal terms with the Italy international and could complete the move before the World Cup.

          13.00 BST: Wolves are ready to bring striker Benik Afobe back to the club on a permanent basis after he helped them win promotion to the Premier League last season. The Birmingham Mail says they will trigger a £12.5m "activation fee" agreed when he joined on loan from Bournemouth.

          12.30 BST: To Germany, where Sport Bild reports that Borussia Dortmund have agreed terms with Werder Bremen midfielder Thomas Delaney, with a fee of between €20- €25m thought likely.

          12.15 BST: Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta has said he believes the club can still sign the world's best players even without the lure of Champions League football next season, the London Evening Standard reports.

          11.55 BST -- DONE DEAL: Brazilian forward Rodrigo Rodrigues, 18, has joined Real Madrid from Gremio Novorizontino and signed a six-year contract, his representatives have said. Rodrigues will join Real Madrid Castilla next season.

          11.30 BST: Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Fred's move to Manchester United is just around the corner, the Manchester Evening News reports. It says officials will finalise a deal for the Brazil international while he is in the UK with his national team and "do not expect there to be any complications."

          11.15 BST -- DONE DEAL: Off to League One for our first signing of the day -- Gillingham have brought in midfielder Regan Charles-Cook from Charlton.

          11.00 BST: Mundo Deportivo links another goalkeeper with a move to Liverpool -- and this time it's Barcelona's Jasper Cillessen.

          10.30 BST: Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks, who is out of contract in the summer, has indicated that he could stay with the club after they won promotion back to the Premier league on Saturday, Football London reports.

          10.10 BST: Steven Gerrard's search for new players continues as he plots a Rangers overhaul, and talkSPORT reports that Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes is another name in the frame.

          09.40 BST: Aston Villa's defeat to Fulham in the Championship playoff final means they may have to cash in on star players this season, the Express and Star reports. It says the futures of midfielder Jack Grealish, linked with Manchester United, and defender James Chester are among those in the balance.

          09.20 BST: Burnley, Bournemouth, West Ham and Crystal Palace are all interested in West Brom striker Jay Rodriguez following the Baggies' relegation to the Championship, Sky Sports reports.

          09.10 BST: Dries Mertens says he has spoken to new Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti and been assured that they want to keep him next season. "The club called me to say that they would like me to stay," he said. "I'm happy there, but we'll see what happens."

          08.47 BST: Tottenham playmaker Christian Eriksen has long been linked with a move to Barcelona, but the Denmark international is now reportedly a target for their Spanish rivals Real Madrid.

          The front page of Spanish sports daily Marca has the headline "Eriksen added to the list." Perhaps a cautionary hint at what might happen to Spurs if they make a move to re-sign Gareth Bale this summer?

          08:25 BST: Well, now... Robert Lewandowski's agent Pini Zahavi has told Sport Bild that the Bayern Munich striker has asked to leave the Bundesliga giants.

          "Robert feels as if he needs a change and a new challenge in his career. The Bayern heirarchy have been informed.

          "Money or a specific club are not the motivation for Robert wanting to move as almost every top club would like to have the best striker in the world in their ranks."

          There would be no shortage of big clubs eager to sign the 29-year-old if he does leave Bayern. Despite getting less playing time in the second half of last season, the Poland international still ended the campaign with 46 goals for club and country.

          08.00 BST: Manchester United are closing in on Porto's Portugal Under-21 defender Diogo Dalot, sources have told ESPN FC. Jose Mourinho is hopeful of concluding a deal for the full-back, who has started just five senior games for his club.

          Sources have told ESPN FC that United scouts watched the 19-year-old in Porto's 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League in March. The teenager impressed enough for United to consider activating his €20m buy-out clause.

          PAPER TALK: Spurs concerned about Sessegnon chances

          More from Tottenham -- they have long been linked with Ryan Sessegnon, but the London Evening Standard says they are worried that Fulham owner Shahid Khan's bid to buy Wembley could throw a spanner in the works.

          Sessegnon helped Fulham secure promotion to the Premier League, and Khan has said he wants the 18-year-old to stay. But the Standard says Spurs fear Fulham would be reluctant to do business "because chairman Daniel Levy could soon be in competition with Khan to secure an NFL franchise in London."

          With Tottenham's new stadium set to stage American football, Levy "likes the idea of the venue one day becoming home to an NFL side" -- but Khan "could bid to make Wembley the permanent base of his Jacksonville Jaguars team."

          The Standard says that potential rivalry could mean Fulham "would rather Sessegnon went elsewhere if they are forced to sell in future."

          However, Spurs will continue to monitor the £50m-rated teenager, who also has also been linked with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

          No loan move for City youngster Foden

          Manchester City teenager Phil Foden will not leave on loan next season and is poised to sign a new long-term deal, the Telegraph reports.

          Foden, 18, has been linked with a temporary switch, but City want the England under-19 international to continue progressing under Pep Guardiola despite interest from numerous other clubs.

          The Telegraph says negotiations over a new contract "are expected to progress smoothly" and, although its terms are still to be finalised, "he will be in line for a substantial pay rise."

          Tap-ins

          -- West Ham are keen to sign Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario for a second loan spell next season, the London Evening Standard reports.

          Mario joined the Hammers in January and helped them secure Premier League status, but the Standard says Inter would prefer to sell the Portugal international permanently and value him at around £25m.

          -- With Riyad Mahrez set to join Manchester City, Leicester have been linked with Nice winger Bassem Srarfi, the Leicester Mercury says, citing reports in France.

          Leicester's former Nice manager Claude Puel is said to admire Tunisia international Srarfi, but Puel might not be the only Premier League boss interested, with Arsenal also reported to have sent scouts to watch Srarfi.