World Football Gossip Roundup: Gareth Bale to Barca, Laurent Blanc to Chelsea

There's a lot of territory to cover today in the B/R world football gossip roundup.

First up, Gareth Bale wants a move to Barcelona, according to one of his teammates.

Next, Laurent Blanc won't rule out a return to club management, according to...Laurent Blanc.

Finally, Cesc Fabregas has a few choice words for Chelsea ahead of their Champions League semifinal.

Of course, nobody in the history of the world would be intimidated by that.

All that and more inside.

Gareth Bale Wants Barcelona Move?

Gareth Bale wants to play for Barcelona, according to Tottenham Hotspur teammate Sandro.

From Goal.com:

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Barca have been credited with an interest in Bale in recent months, and Sandro believes that the 22-year-old is eager to further his career at Camp Nou.

"Gareth is calm, but I am sure that he would like to play at Barca," he told COM Radio.

Earlier on Tuesday, Barcelona right-back Daniel Alves revealed his admiration for Bale, who moved to White Hart Lane in 2007.

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Of course, there's also a bit about Sandro himself.

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Sandro then admitted that he would also like to ply his trade with the Blaugrana.

"I will work hard to play at Barca some day, because they are the best club in the world," the Brazilian added.

"

Keep on working, Sandy.

Man City Chase French Youngster, Daniel Sturridge

Manchester City have joined the race to sign 16-year-old French sensation Jules Ntcham.

Ntcham currently plays for Le Havre. Arsenal, Inter Milan and Juventus have also shown interest.

From The Telegraph:

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The midfielder, who captains the France Under-16 team, has resisted Le Havre’s attempts to tie him to a professional contract since his 16th birthday in February and could be available for no more than a small compensation fee this summer.

Le Havre, who are in the French second division, threatened to report Manchester United to Fifa for poaching teenage midfielder Paul Pogba in 2009 before dropping their threatened legal action.

But having lured Ntcham from the third division amateur club Paris FC, Le Havre now face a losing battle to resist interest in the player from Europe’s leading clubs.

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According to the article, Inter lead the chase for Ntcham.

In other Manchester City news, the Citizens want to bring Daniel Sturridge back to the Etihad Stadium, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Former City player Sturridge, 22, has played a full 90 minutes only twice under interim Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo.

Laurent Blanc for Chelsea?

Laurent Blanc, currently the manager of France, has declined to rule out a return to club management.

Blanc, 46, managed Bordeaux from 2007-10 and has been linked with the vacant Chelsea job, last held by Andre Villas-Boas.

From Goal.com:

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"My intention is to continue with the France team. I have not changed my mind," Blanc told Le Parisien.

"But the situation is that my contract has not yet been extended. And I'm not the kind of guy who will keep tapping at the door. If it's clear, it's clear."

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France will play England, Sweden and co-hosts Ukraine in Group D at Euro 2012.

Newcastle Want Gylfi Sigurdsson?

Swansea midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson has become a hot transfer target with a series of outstanding performances for the Swans.

The Icelandic international joined from Hoffenheim on loan in January and has already attracted interest from other clubs.

Today the other club is Newcastle. From the Daily Mirror:

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Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers would love to sign him permanently, but may struggle to compete with bigger clubs in terms of a fee - the deal is likely to be around £8million - and wages if it comes to a bidding war.

Newcastle are unlikely to be the only club interested.

Sigurdsson’s former club Reading are watching developments as they prepare to return to the Premier League, while West Ham have also made enquiries and will make a move if they go up.

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In other Newcastle news, manager Alan Pardew is giving a 10-day trial to 19-year-old Australian defender Curtis Good, according to the Daily Express.

Salomon Kalou's Dozen

Word out of Stamford Bridge is that "12 leading clubs" want Ivorian winger Salomon Kalou.

Chelsea, it seems, is not one of the 12.

From Goal.com:

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Sources have told Goal.com that Kalou wants to stay in the Premier League, where his admirers include Liverpool and Arsenal, but his contract talks are also being closely monitored by clubs from Italy, Spain and Turkey.

"More than 12 leading clubs are closely monitoring his contract talks," one insider said.

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Kalou, 26, joined Chelsea in 2006 from Feyenoord.

Manchester United Chase Costa Rican?

Today, the Manchester United rumor mill takes a break from the Nicolas Gaitan stories. Instead, a report from the Daily Mail is linking the Red Devils with a move for FC Copenhagen left back Bryan Oviedo.

That's him in the picture, with the ball.

Oviedo, 22, is a Costa Rican international. He would reportedly cost about £2 million and serve as cover for Patrice Evra.

Hernanes Wants Arsenal Move?

Lots of Arsenal news in the rumor mill today.

First, 26-year-old Brazilian playmaker Hernanes reportedly wants a move from Lazio to Arsenal, according to talkSport. Anzhi Makhachkala are also interested.

It is understood that Lazio's asking price is double the £9 million they paid for Hernanes in 2010.

Elsewhere, the latest gossip surrounding Eden Hazard is that Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye has inexplicably told him to join Arsenal instead of Tottenham, according to the Daily Mirror.

Okay, then.

Finally, injured midfielder Jack Wilshere is set to take Arsene Wenger's advice and skip the Olympics this summer, according to The Telegraph. The idea is that Wilshere could then focus on returning to Arsenal after missing the entire 2011-12 season.

Cesc Fabregas on Chelsea

At long last, today's gossip roundup concludes with a bit of Cesc Fabregas trash-talking.

If you've ever heard Cesc talk trash, you'll know that this latest morsel won't infuriate anyone.

From the Daily Mail:

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"They tried to change under Andre Villas-Boas but they are now the same Chelsea I knew when I left. It’s the typical thing; we would dominate the ball, keep  possession, create chances and then ... a counter-attack from Didier Drogba and goal.

"They are like motorbikes now: faster, quicker to get the ball forward and cause problems."

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Is that what motorcycles do? I thought they made lots of noise and annoyed every other driver on the road.

Oh, well. Agree to disagree?