Paper Round: Bale deal in jeopardy

Spurs question Real ability to fund Bale deal: The Daily Telegraph reports that Levy is growing increasingly frustrated with Real's "confused stance" over Bale, with strong suggestions that the Spanish club's president Florentino Perez has not even made a formal offer yet. Levy, the paper says, refused to meet Perez for a second time on Thursday, and Spurs are "convinced that Real do not have the money to buy Bale and certainly not on the terms that they would demand".

Paper Round's view: Surely there is no doubt that Real are serious about signing Bale - Carlo Ancelotti has received assurances from Perez that he will be able to count on the player next season and, given their very public pursuit of him, it's difficult to believe it was all for nothing. As for the money, Bale was always going to cost an arm and a leg - and maybe a few players too - and this latest 'development' just seems to be about the two parties posturing in an attempt to get exactly what they want. Bale should still win his dream move.

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Spurs fail to throw Adebayor into Bale deal: The Daily Mail makes no mention of talks between Spurs and Real stalling over Bale, but claims Levy has failed in an attempt to offload Emmanuel Adebayor to the Bernabeu as part of that deal. Spurs want to get rid of the Togo international due to his deteriorating relationship with Andre Villas-Boas but Real boss Ancelotti does not want him for the coming season either, the paper reports.

Paper Round's view: Nobody seems to want Adebayor and time is running out for him to complete a move elsewhere. Increasingly it's looking like he won't be going to a top club, either at home or abroad.

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Suarez will not leave Liverpool: Again, like yesterday, today's big story concerns Suarez and makes it into most papers - it is covered in more depth elsewhere on this website - with Liverpool owner John W Henry empathically announcing that they will not sell Suarez this summer to Arsenal - or any other club. The American has said it is a decision based on football, and nothing to do with any ill feeling held towards Arsenal, whose dogged pursuit has perhaps upset Liverpool. Henry is adamant Suarez has to stay at Anfield, because there is not enough time or decent candidates left on the market to bring in before the transfer window shuts.

Paper Round's view: Try to suppress your laughter, but has Suarez's bid to engineer a move away from Anfield failed? Perhaps the player himself is beginning to think that is a possibility after he spoke up again and said he hoped "friendly" resolution could be found. A way of trying to appease Liverpool fans? It might be too late for that Luis.

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Hodgson warns Chelsea players against talking to Rooney: That's the Daily Telegraph's headline, but the report says Roy Hodgson will not order the wantaway Manchester United striker to avoid chatting with Chelsea players - such as his close friend Ashley Cole - as "that might be difficult". The England manager has spoken to David Moyes, Jose Mourinho and Wayne Rooney about the tense situation, the paper reports, and he is aware of his duty of care to both club managers.

Paper Round's view: If it is a warning to Chelsea players, it's a soft one. At the end of the day, Hodgson knows he cannot stop players from chatting to each other in the team hotel. Cole, Gary Cahill and Frank Lampard should see it as a great opportunity, although what they can say to Rooney that will make him want to join Chelsea even more is a mystery.

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Bendtner's wife holds key to Malaga move: Malaga remain keen on securing the services of Nicklas Bendtner and are hoping the player's wife's ties with Spain can convince him to make the move, the Daily Star reports. The Dane remains the Spanish club's top target but there are still concerns over whether the Arsenal striker will accept a pay cut to play in La Liga. Caroline Luel-Brockdorff could hold the key.

Paper Round's view: It's a World Cup season and if Bendtner has designs of regaining his spot in the national side - after not being considered following his arrest for drink driving in March - he would do well to take the pay cut and move on. It's difficult to imagine him playing from the start in an Arsenal shirt.

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