(7.35pm on Sky Sports 5) Glasgow Warriors Leone Nakarawa

LONDON - They are among the worlds leading footballers and, unsurprisingly, the most coveted by rival teams. With no competitive matches in Europe, its the intrigue about the futures of Wayne Rooney, Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Cesc Fabregas that is largely filling the void during the off-season. European clubs could be on the verge of completing hundreds of millions of dollars in transfer business before the Sept. 2 cutoff, defying the economic climate on the continent and UEFAs relatively new Financial Fair Play rules. Or, quite possibly, very little money could change hands. Instead, the leading players will stay put and the European footballing landscape will remain largely unchanged. Its a situation that would become far clearer with public clarity from the players, who have gone very quiet recently. One of the biggest transfers to be mooted in the off-season has been for Bale, with Real Madrid the most active in the chase for the Tottenham forward. Leaving north London would seem logical. Financial considerations aside — the weekly pay packet in Madrid would likely be worth at least $300,000 a week — Bales chances of lifting a trophy would be significantly enhanced, and he would be able to display his talents in the Champions League again. While there has not been an official bid, Marca — the Spanish sports newspaper renowned for its close links to Madrid — has ramped up coverage of "Operation Bale," claiming in recent weeks that a transfer exceeding $100 million is imminent. So has Bale reaffirmed his loyalty to the team that turned him into one of Europes hottest properties? Not quite. "Im hoping to improve from last season," is one of the few vague public comments from the speedy Wales star this month. And in an usual move, Bales agent, Jonathan Barnett, went on Marcas television station in May to declare that they would listen to an offer from Madrid. Not that Bale and his agent have much say in the matter, since there are three years remaining on the players Tottenham contract. "The player is under contract at Tottenham," Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said Friday, confirming that talks over extending that deal are ongoing but unresolved. If Bale wanted to leave why not hand in an official transfer request? Its a question many have been asking of Rooney, who wants to end his nine-year Manchester United career, and Suarez, who wants to upgrade Liverpool for a more competitive club. "Its a bit of a red herring, theres no requirement you submit a transfer request," sports lawyer Ian Lynam said in a telephone interview. "Most players who move dont move on the back of a transfer requests." Suarez is one of the few leading players to publicly agitate for a transfer. Taking to the airwaves in his native Uruguay, the striker made it clear in repeated radio interview he wants to leave Liverpool despite having with three years to go on his contract. Madrid is his preferred destination — a move that could hinge on the Spanish sides pursuit of Bale — but the only offers so far have come from Liverpools Premier League rival, Arsenal — the latest worth 40 million pounds ($61 million). That Suarez is keen on joining Arsenal, which is in Europe next season unlike Liverpool, seems to be at odds with comments in May that escaping the English media "who are trashing me unfairly" is his reason for wanting to exit Anfield. In this, what price loyalty? Liverpool stood by Suarez when racially abused Manchester Uniteds Patrice Evra in 2011, an incident and eight-match ban that damaged the global standing of the 19-time English champions. That reputation was harmed further when Suarez bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during a game in April, and was banned for 10 matches. Such incidents make it seem even more baffling that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, a proponent of high moral standards in football, would pursue Suarez, who still has six matches of his ban left to serve. Suarezs departure would leave Liverpool without its most prolific scorer. With Rooney, though, Manchester United, is steadfastly refusing to release an increasingly peripheral player. Bids from Chelsea have been rebuffed despite Rooney falling behind striker Robin van Persie in the United pecking order. Lynam disputes the notion that knowing a player is officially up for sale prevents clubs from extracting the highest transfer fee. "Technically the clubs dont have to sell a player and they can keep him," said Lynam of London-based law firm Charles Russell. "But the reality is there is a lot of power with the players and clubs are loathed to hang onto a player who really wants to move ... when you compare it to American sports, the level of power the players have in European football is significant." Rooney has not spoken publicly on the situation since Alex Ferguson disclosed before retiring as United in May that the disenchanted striker wanted out of Old Trafford. At the same time as denying Rooney an escape route, United has pursued Fabregas at Barcelona, while also being heavily linked with a highly ambitious bid to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Madrid. Seeking a big-name signing to start his managerial reign, David Moyes has embarked on a highly public quest to prize Fabregas from the Spanish champions with a series of hostile bids for the former Arsenal captain. "Its logical that weve had offers for Fabregas because he is a quality player," Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu said. "But he is not for sale." The same "not for sale" sign has been placed over Rooney by United, Suarez by Liverpool and Bale by Tottenham. The departure of one could set the wheels in motion for a series of blockbuster summer moves. For now, the transfer merry-go-round is barely moving. Wholesale Custom Penguins Shirts . Rinne played two periods in his first game since left hip surgery in early May. Gabriel Bourque scored 3:07 into the second period and Austin Watson tallied 5:15 later for Nashville. Penguins Jerseys China . Toronto has dropped games to Indiana and Miami since a five-game winning streak and closed out a three-game road trip at 1-2. http://www.custompenguinsjersey.com/ . LUCIE, Fla. Custom Paul Martin Jersey . -- Ryan Blaney provided more evidence that Penske Racings No. Custom Penguins Jerseys . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf.A look ahead to the three Guinness PRO12 games on Friday night, including defending champions Glasgow v Munster live on Sky Sports. Treviso v Dragons (6.10pm) Thomas Rhys Thomas is back to captain Dragons Newport Gwent Dragons skipper Thomas Rhys Thomas makes a return from injury to start against Benetton Treviso in Italy.The 33-year-old hooker is one of six changes that have been made to last weekends team that lost to Connacht at Rodney Parade. Full-back Carl Meyer returns to the side after recovering from injury and is joined in the back three by winger Hallam Amos who has been released from Wales camp.Fly-half Jason Tovey has been rested after suffering a back injury last weekend and is replaced by Angus OBrien who partners Sarel Pretorius in the half-backs.Two changes are made to the front row as Boris Stankovich and Thomas join tighthead prop Brok Harris for the clash.There is one change in the second row as Cory Hill gets the nod alongside Rynard Landman.Treviso: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Alberto Sgarbi (c), 11 Angelo Esposito, 10 Sam Christie, 9 Alberto Lucchese; 1 Cherif Traorè, 2 Luca Bigi, 3 Simone Ferrari, 4 Filo Paulo, 5 Tom Palmer, 6 Andrea De Marchi, 7 Marco Lazzaroni, 8 Dean Budd.Replacements: 16 Filippo Filippetto, 17 Matteo Zanusso, 18 Manu Salesi, 19 Jeff Montauriol, 20 Marco Barbini, 21 Robert Barbieri, 22 Chris Smylie, 23 Tommaso Iannone.Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Ashton Hewitt, 13 Adam Hughes, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Angus OBrien, 9 Sarel Pretorius; 1 Boris Stankovich, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas (c), 3 Brok Harris, 4 Cory Hill, 5 Rynard Landman, 6 Ben White, 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Nick Crosswell.Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Hugh Gustafson, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Lewis Evans, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Geraint Rhys Jones, 23 Ross Wardle.Ospreys v Edinburgh (7.05pm) Brendon Leonard leads Ospreys in their important clash with Edinburgh Edinburgh have made four changes to the side that lost 22-21 to the Scarlets last weekend.Two players in the backline have been promoted from the bench to start against seventh-place Ospreys, with Sean Kennedy slotting in at scrum-half in place of Nathan Fowles and Dougie Fife moving onto the right wing where he takes over from Damien Hoyland.There are two changes to the starting pack as Allan Dell moves into the loosehead prop berth for Rory Sutherland who is with the Scotland national team, while Jamie Ritchie takes up the No 6 jersey in place of Mike Coman who is ruled out with a calf injury.Ospreys meanwhile come into the clash after beating Munster at Irish Independent Park on Sunday. While head coach Steve Tandy was pleased with the result, he warned his team to keep their feet on the ground.We know that if we dont back up the Munster result with a similar performance and outcome then all our efforts inn Cork will be wasted, said Tandy.ddddddddddddWere going up against an experienced, big and physical team who have the second best defence in the league, so its not going to be easy.Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Ben John, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Brendon Leonard (c); 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Sam Parry, 3 Maafu Fia, 4 James King, 5 Rory Thornton, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Dan Baker.Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Olly Cracknell, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Josh Matavesi, 23 Eli Walker.Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Michael Allen, 12 Sam Beard, 11 Tom Brown, 10 Phil Burleigh, 9 Sean Kennedy; 1 Allan Dell, 2 Neil Cochrane (c), 3 John Andress, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Ben Toolis, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Cornell Du Preez.Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Grant Sheills, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Chris Dean, 23 Blair Kinghorn.Glasgow v Munster (7.35pm on Sky Sports 5) Glasgow Warriors Leone Nakarawa and Leone Nakarawa line up against Munster this Friday Full match preview hereGlasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Glenn Bryce, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Ali Price; 1 Gordon Reid, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Sila Puafisi, 4 Tim Swinson, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 6 Rob Harley, 7 Chris Fusaro, 8 Josh Strauss (c).Replacements: 16 Cammy Fenton, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutawa, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Simone Favaro, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Fraser Lyle, 23 Rory Hughes.Munster: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Darren Sweetnam, 13 David Johnston, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Ronan OMahony; 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Tomás OLeary; 1 Dave Kilcoyne, 2 Niall Scannell, 3 John Ryan, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Billy Holland (c), 6 Jack ODonoghue, 7 Tommy ODonnell, 8 Robin Copeland.Replacements: 16 Mike Sherry, 17 James Cronin, 18 Mario Sagario, 19 Dave Foley, 20 Conor Oliver, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Johnny Holland, 23 Cian Bohane. Also See: Sky Live: Glasgow v Munster PRO12 table Fixtures and results Rugby Union on Sky ' ' '