Transfer notebook: Gareth Bale spotted at Cardiff City training ground ahead of possible move

Gareth Bale is poised to make a decision on his future in the next 48 hours.

Bale is close to agreeing a deal to play on next season and was spotted at Cardiff City's training ground on Wednesday, but it is understood there are no guarantees he will join the Championship club.

After Wales secured their place at the World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years, Bale received a number of offers from clubs across the world to continue his career.

Bale wants to ensure he is in peak condition for the tournament in Qatar, which starts in November, and Wales's qualification has postponed any plans of early retirement.

The 32-year-old is out of contract after leaving Real Madrid and could reach a decision with his representatives on Friday.

Forest in talks with Liverpool over a defender Williams

Nottingham Forest are in talks with Liverpool over a £15 million deal for Neco Williams, the Wales defender.

Steve Cooper, the Forest head coach, has moved in for Williams with the club discussing a potential fee with Liverpool.

Fulham are also in the chase to sign the right-back, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Craven Cottage, but Cooper is hopeful of securing a deal for his fellow Welshman.

Liverpool will demand an initial fee of £15m for Williams and are reluctant to sanction a loan transfer this summer.

Forest are also due to complete the club record £17.5m signing of Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi later this week.

Meanwhile, Watford winger Philip Zinckernagel – who was on loan at Forest last season – is close to completing a permanent move to Olympiacos.

Out of contract Austin Australia-bound

The striker Charlie Austin will sign a two-year deal with Australian A-League club Brisbane Roar, having turned down offers in the Championship in favour of a different kind of challenge overseas.

The 32-year-old, who was out of contract after his second spell at Queens Park Rangers, was impressed by the pitch made to him by the Queensland club. The Brisbane manager Warren Moon travelled to London to speak to Austin about the deal. Austin passed his medical in Manchester on Thursday and will join up with the Brisbane squad ahead of their summer schedule which includes friendlies against Aston Villa and Leeds United.

The change of environment appeals to Austin who has long had ambitions to play overseas. In 2020, pre-pandemic, he had agreed a deal to join Major League Soccer franchise Nashville SC but that was halted when domestic football in the United States was suspended for Covid. Austin also had an A-League offer from Perth Glory but chose Brisbane because of the vision laid out to him by Moon.

The A-League are keen to recruit a few experienced European names but with squads built around homegrown Australian talent.

Brisbane will play Villa on July 14 at the Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium and then Leeds six days later in Townsville in the round-robin Queensland Champions Cup. Austin became a Championship goalscoring sensation with Burnley and QPR ten years ago after a rapid rise from the non-league game and then with Swindon Town in League One.

Austin returned to QPR two years ago. His first Premier League season with the club in 2014-2015 yielded 18 goals, making him the fourth highest goalscorer in the division.

Palace in duel with United over winger Ebiowei

Crystal Palace are hopeful of beating Manchester United in the race to sign Derby County teenager Malcolm Ebiowei.

Palace and United are both interested in signing the 18-year-old, who made 16 appearances in the Championship last season.

Ebiowei has represented both England and Holland at youth level, and was seen as one of the brightest young prospects in the Championship after breaking into Wayne Rooney’s first team in February.

Palace are now considered to be the most likely destination for the winger but United are still keen on bringing him to Old Trafford.

Ebiowei, a former Arsenal youth player, signed a one-year deal with Derby at the start of last season after leaving Rangers.

Wallace faces medical ahead of West Brom move

West Brom are close to completing the signing of Millwall winger Jed Wallace in the next 48 hours.

Wallace is having a medical at Albion's training ground on Wednesday after deciding to leave Millwall as a free agent.

Championship trio eye Simpson

Tyreece Simpson, Ipswich Town striker, is a major target for Huddersfield Town this summer with the beaten Championship play-off finalists competing with Luton Town and Middlesbrough for his signing.

Valued at around £250,000, Simpson, 20, scored nine goals in 25 appearances on loan at Swindon Town in League Two last season. He is out of contract in 12 months’ time and has rejected a new deal at Portman Road.

Adingra closes in on £6m Brighton move

Brighton are set to sign Ivory Coast forward Simon Adingra from Danish club Nordsjælland in a deal worth £6m.

The 20-year-old had attracted Premier League scouts after breaking into Danish Superliga over the last two seasons, having started out in Academy football in Ghana.

Adingra will have a medical at Brighton today ahead of joining Graham Potter’s squad for pre-season training. They have already signed Paraguay striker Julio Enciso from Libertad Asuncion in a £9.5m move.