World Football Gossip Roundup: Gareth Bale, Thomas Vermaelen, Frank Lampard

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As Gareth Bale keeps lighting up the scoreboard, Real Madrid keep heating up the rumor mill.

With Bale in fine form of late, the Welshman has been all over the news and the gossip pages. Most of the speculation surrounds Real Madrid, who are said to be waiting with a summer bid.

The latest news in that saga leads this Sunday edition of the B/R World Football Gossip Roundup. Inside, we also have news on Thomas Vermaelen, Frank Lampard, Robert Lewandowski and a Liverpool summer clear-out.

Read on for all the details.

Real Madrid Ask Tottenham for Gareth Bale Updates

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Real Madrid have asked Tottenham Hotspur to advise them about Welsh winger Gareth Bale's future availability, according to the Daily Telegraph.

Real president Florentino Perez is reportedly considering a £50 million bid for Bale, 23. The Spanish club reportedly inquired about Bale in the summer when they bought midfielder Luka Modric from Spurs.

The Telegraph links the potential move to Perez's bid for re-election at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, the Sunday People (via the Mirror) reports that Paris Saint-Germain will also bid on Bale if he becomes available.

Barcelona Target Thomas Vermaelen?

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Barcelona are watching Thomas Vermaelen as a potential successor to defender Eric Abidal, according to the Sunday People (via Sunday Mirror).

Abidal, 33, has dealt with health issues in recent seasons and reportedly spent time in a hospital in January.

Vermaelen, 27, joined Arsenal from Ajax in 2009 and took over as captain last summer following the departure of Robin van Persie for Manchester United. He was previously linked with Barcelona last summer (via Daily Mail).

Barcelona have signed midfielders Alex Song and Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal in recent years.

Borussia Dortmund Want Bayern Munich to Clarify Interest in Robert Lewandowski

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Borussia Dortmund general manager Hans-Joachim Watzke has asked Bayern Munich to clarify whether they are interested in Dortmund's Polish forward Robert Lewandowski (via Sky Sports).

Lewandowski, 24, joined Dortmund from Lech Poznan in 2010 and helped the club win back-to-back Bundesliga titles. In recent weeks, he has been linked heavily with a summer move to Bayern Munich. His contract with Dortmund expires in 2014.

Watzke said the rumors are "getting on my nerves."

There are two scenarios. The first is that Bayern have no interest in Robert, in which case it's all a load of rubbish. The other scenario is that they are interested, and then they have got to lift their cover at some stage and come to us with an enquiry.

Bayern are usually correct and if they have any interest in a player, they will make contact. When they do that, they will get an answer. Maybe that would even surprise them, but as long as they carry on saying they have no interest or for as long as they don't do anything, then we don't care.

Robert is playing here, playing very well too, and there is nothing more to say.

L.A. Galaxy Willing to Share Frank Lampard?

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The Los Angeles Galaxy would be willing to "share" midfielder Frank Lampard with a European club, according to the Sunday People (via Sunday Mirror).

Lampard, 34, has been linked with a move from Chelsea to L.A. Galaxy, the two-time defending champions of Major League Soccer.

The Galaxy are reportedly offering a two-and-a-half-year contract worth $4.5 million per year, access to a home rent-free and flights back and forth between Los Angeles and Britain.

Liverpool Set for Summer Sell-Off?

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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is preparing to sell a number of players this summer in order to overhaul his squad, according to the Sunday Mirror.

The Reds sit ninth in the Premier League table through 26 matches of Rodgers' first season at Anfield.

According to the Mirror, Rodgers could sell goalkeeper Pepe Reina, midfielders Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing, and defenders Martin Skrtel, Sebastian Coates and Jose Enrique.

On-loan forward Andy Carroll will also be sold, according to the report.

 

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