Green, green grass of home for Bale?

Gareth Bale has excited Cardiff fans by visiting the Sky Bet Championship club’s Vale of Glamorgan base on their first day of pre-season training.

Bale has been linked with a move to his hometown club following the end of his nine-year stay at Real Madrid.

The five-time Champions League winner is a free agent and looking for a new club ahead of playing for Wales at the World Cup in Qatar in November.

Bale, 32, has several options on the table with MLS teams in the United States, former club Tottenham and wealthy

Newcastle all having been suggested as possible destinations.

But Bale fuelled speculation that he might prefer being closer to home by saying the standard of football he plays before the World Cup will not be a determining factor in his decision.

Bale would obviously have to take a huge pay cut – the Wales captain reportedly earned a £600,000 per week at Real – to sign for Cardiff.

But his agent Jonathan Barnett said in a recent interview that “what Gareth does next is not about money”, with Bale’s primary focus on what is best for him playing-wise before leading Wales in their first World Cup since 1958.

The sight of Bale at Cardiff’s training ground yesterday led some fans to believe that he was about to sign for the Bluebirds and complete one of the most remarkable transfers in Welsh football history.

But Cardiff share the facilities with the Football Association of Wales’ medical staff, and it is understood that Bale was there to undertake some physio work.

Todd Boehly will act as interim sporting director to handle Chelsea’s summer transfer dealings.

Chelsea’s co-controlling owner has been confirmed as the Stamford Bridge club’s new chairman, replacing Bruce Buck.

Marina Granovskaia has also been confirmed as stepping down from her directorship, leaving US magnate Boehly to spearhead Chelsea’s recruitment negotiations in this summer’s transfer window.

Newcastle hope to tie up their move for England keeper Nick Pope before the weekend as he prepares to undergo a medical.

The 30-year-old, who has spent the last six years at Turf Moor, would become head coach Eddie Howe’s second summer signing following the capture of full-back Matt Targett.