World Football Gossip Roundup: Raul, Dzeko, Dempsey, De Marcos, N'Zonzi, Giggs

Your daily docket of world football gossip is bursting at the seams.

In Germany, one Spanish legend is set to move on, and a giant Bosnian is set to move in.

In Spain, Athletic Bilbao have the world's most popular squad, it seems.

And in Italy, Clint Dempsey is a wanted man.

All that and much, much more inside.

Raul to Leave Schalke

Word out of Germany is that Spanish forward Raul will leave Schalke at the end of the season.

Raul, 34, is out of contract in the summer. He joined Schalke from Real Madrid in 2010.

From Yahoo! Eurosport:

"

The 34-year-old former Real Madrid and Spain striker has been at the Gelsenkirchen club for two seasons, scoring 27 Bundesliga goals in 63 matches.

"He will explain his reasons for the move...and his plans for the future in due course," the club said in a statement.

German media reported that Raul could continue his career in Qatar.

"

Bundesliga Giants Battle for Dzeko?

Elsewhere in Germany, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are set to compete for out-of-favor Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

That's according to the Daily Mail:

"

Bayern have already made Dzeko aware of their interest and City sources believe that is his most likely destination if they can match his wages and come up with the £20million-plus fee the Barclays Premier League club will demand.

Dortmund, though, will try to get involved if they lose their prolific Poland striker Robert Lewandowski to a big club this summer and know they will have Champions League football to offer if they can close out the Bundesliga title

"

Dzeko, 26, played for VfL Wolfsburg from 2007-11.

Blues Set to Sign Llorente?

Meanwhile, Manchester City are reportedly chasing Athletic Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente.

According to The Sun, the Blues "are close to snapping up" Llorente for £30 million.

"

Agents for both clubs are understood to be involved and negotiations for a five-year deal for the Spanish striker are at the detailed stage.

…

Llorente, 27, has been eyed by all the Premier League big boys.

But none can go close to the £200,000-a-week wages on offer at City.

"

According to the article, Tottenham are also interested.

You might remember Llorente for this goal against Manchester United.

Juventus After Iker Muniain?

Athletic Bilbao's impressive run in the Europa League this season has drawn plenty of interest to their star players.

That includes forward Iker Muniain, who is reportedly being tracked by Juventus.

From Goal.com:

"

The Serie A leaders are looking to add a high-profile name to their attack in the summer transfer window, and they see Muniain, 19, as a potential target to reinforce their squad.

The Pamplona-born starlet is a product of the Athletic youth academy and has developed into a key player for the Basque giants since making his first-team debut in July 2009.

The forward, who has been capped at senior level for Spain, will not be available on the cheap, however, as he has a contract until June 2015 with his current club.

"

According to the article, Juventus are also interested in Torino defender Angelo Ogbonna and Cagliari center back Davide Astori.

United Chase Modric, De Marcos?

Manchester United are all over the gossip pages today.

We'll start with Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric, who is reportedly a United target.

From the Daily Star:

"

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson  has made the £40m-rated Tottenham playmaker his top summer transfer target.

And Starsport understands United are currently firm favourites to land the Croatian ahead of Chelsea and Manchester City.

Fergie has been a huge fan of the Spurs star, 26, for some time and views him as the answer to his search for a long-term successor to Paul Scholes.

"

Elsewhere, the Red Devils are also being linked to Athletic Bilbao midfielder Oscar De Marcos.

De Marcos, 22, is rated at £26 million.

From the Daily Mirror:

"

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is sending his top spy to watch the powerful prospect in the first leg of Bilbao's Europa League semi-final against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal on Thursday.

…

United view De Marcos as ideal for their midfield, which has only fired this season since the return of Paul Scholes.

"

Who knew it would take so much time, effort and money to replace a 37-year-old, eh?

Dempsey's Italian Job?

American international midfielder Clint Dempsey has made a splash this season in England, where he's been the subject of numerous transfer rumors.

Today, though, The Sun is reporting AS Roma want Dempsey for £7 million.

Dempsey, 29, has one year left on his Fulham deal.

Anzhi Want N'Zonzi

Anzhi want N'Zonzi. That has a bit of a ring to it, no?

Anyway, that's the word from Metro:

"

Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala are ready to kick start a summer fire sale at Blackburn Rovers, by attempting to pip Arsenal and Chelsea to the signing of influential midfielder Steven N'Zonzi.

…

Big-spending Anzhi are ready to offer the 23-year-old a whopping pay packet to follow former team-mate Chris Samba to Dagestan.

"

The article also says Anzhi plan to spend £300 million this summer.

Montolivo to Milan?

Arsenal have lost out on the chance to sign long-time transfer target Riccardo Montolivo.

That's the word from talkSport, which is reporting that Montolivo has signed a pre-contract with AC Milan for next season.

"

Montolivo, who had been tracked by a host of Premier League sides including Arsenal over the last year, will join Milan on a four-year contract worth £2m a season.

The Fiorentina midfielder turned down several offers of a new contract at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in order to secure his path to the Serie A champions.

"

Montolivo, 27, has represented Italy 32 times.

Royals Ready to Spend?

Reading secured promotion to the English Premier League by beating Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

The next day, Metro was reporting that the Royals will spend their new-found cash wisely as they try to build their squad for the rigors of top-flight football.

The article quotes club chairman John Madejski:

"

I have put a lot of money into this football club, which I’m quite happy about. And I hope the Zingarevich family will take Reading on to a different level and into Europe and beyond.

It’s all well getting to the Premier League, but you need deep investment to stay there.

"

True enough.

Giggs at 40?

Finally, we end with a story about the ageless wonder known as Ryan Giggs.

Giggs, 38, has already signed on for another season with Manchester United. And now former teammate Gary Neville thinks Giggs can play well into his 40s.

From the Manchester Evening News:

"

"Ryan is 38 years old, and he will contribute at the age of 42 if he wants to, the way his body is right now, the way his football is and with the quality he still has,” said the former United defender.

“You see his quality and what a contribution he makes to the team and how could you ask someone after that when they’re going to retire? Why would he even think about it?”

"

Why indeed.