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          Liverpool to swap Rickie Lambert for Christian Benteke, Vidal to Arsenal?

          • ESPN staffMay 25, 2015, 06:04 AM

          As the majority of the world's leagues ready for the season's end, the rumours continue to pick up steam. Things are starting to get real, transfer fans.

          Liverpool to swap Lambert for Villa star?

          Following a harrowing 6-1 drubbing at Stoke on the final day of the Premier League season, Brendan Rodgers looks like he will need a statement signing to lead his Anfield attack next season.

          Considering the likes of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert have failed to made the grade on Merseyside this year, the Mirror reports that Liverpool will tempt Aston Villa into parting ways with Christian Benteke by using Lambert as bait.

          The 33-year-old England international's return to Liverpool hasn't gone as planned this season, while Benteke hit 11 goals in the last 11 games to guide Villa to Premier League safety.

          Tim Sherwood is reluctant to sell his star man, but a cash-plus-Lambert deal may ease the pain and tempt the Midlands club into parting ways with their Belgian talisman.

          Gunners gonna poach long-term United target

          Arsenal could be about to add another Chile star to their squad to partner Alexis Sanchez with various British newspapers picking up on a rather intriguing tweet from DirecTV journalist Hernan Feler, who posted on Saturday night that the Gunners are waiting until after this summer's Copa America to announce the signing of Arturo Vidal.

          The tweet translates to the following: "After the Copa America in Chile, it will be made official the arrival of Arturo Vidal to Arsenal. Everything is closed. He will partner Alexis."

          Feler was on point with rumours of Alexis leaving Barcelona for north London last summer, and Vidal would be a coup for the Gunners after his fine season at Juventus -- especially considering Manchester United's long-standing interest in the midfielder.

          Anfield exit looms for Sterling and Johnson

          Raheem Sterling's acrimonious split with Liverpool plunged to new depths on Sunday as he was benched for the shocking 6-1 defeat at Stoke -- and the embarrassment continued for the 20-year-old as he was subjected to abuse from travelling supporters who were obviously unimpressed with his agent's machinations over recent weeks.

          Sterling was booed earlier this week at the club's awards ceremony, and though he smiled back in the face of the Liverpool fans' fury on Sunday, his time at the club looks to be drawing to swift, uncomfortable end.

          One player who is certain to be leaving Anfield on better terms than Sterling this summer is Glen Johnson, who left a warm tribute to the club via his Twitter account with the hashtag #NewChapter.

          If that's not an exit tweet, we don't know what is.

          Toni lining up move Down Under?

          Who fancies a World Cup-winning striker? Adelaide United do -- they're after Italy legend Luca Toni, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.

          The Hellas Verona forward may be two days shy of his 38th birthday, but netted his 20th and 21st goals of the season on Sunday night to move into pole position for the Serie A top scorer award.

          "If we do something we do it seriously,'' Adelaide chairman Greg Griffin said earlier on Sunday. "Basically we're looking at this situation with Luca Toni seriously. We're sitting on the whiteboard working out how we can do it.

          "The first thing we have to see is whether it can be achieved and then you look at how you fund it, to be blunt."

          Money may be an issue, but with Toni playing every Serie A game this season, the veteran's fitness is certainly not a concern for the A-League team.

          Decision time nears for Gundogan

          Borussia Dortmund have announced that Ilkay Gundogan will not sign a new deal beyond his current contract which runs until 2016, and BVB have already found his replacement in Gonzalo Castro.

          Dortmund revealed the signing of the 27-year-old Bayer Leverkusen holding midfielder earlier on Sunday, which will pave the way for Gundogan to depart the club this summer.

          The Germany international has yet to announce his destination, but Castro's arrival looks likely to speed up the process with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal and a host of other clubs linked with the 24-year-old.

          With United boss Louis van Gaal confirming that a right-footed holding midfielder is top of his transfer wish list, expect movement soon.

          Tap-ins

          - Petr Cech was understandably overjoyed to celebrate the Premier League title ceremony at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, though his Twitter post of selfies with the fans thanking them for their support "As always for last 11 seasons" could spell the end of his Chelsea career with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all lurking.

          Either that or it's a simple tweet thanking the fans -- but that's the beauty of Transfer Talk...

          - Asier Illarramendi has reportedly been told his time is up at Real Madrid with Liverpool keen, but the 25-year-old is desperate to stay at the Bernabeu.

          The Mirror quotes Illarra as saying: "I have a contract for a few more years and I hope to stay because I really like it here." The decision may, however, be out of his hands -- this is Madrid after all.

          - Sydney FC and Austrian captain Marc Janko have parted ways, with the 2014-15 A-League Golden Boot winner annoucing the news on Twitter late on Sunday night.

          - Didier Drogba, who confirmed that he will be leaving Chelsea on Sunday, is believed to be front-runner to replace Janko at the Sky Blues -- that's according to the Herald Sun.

          - Jermaine Beckford's League One playoff final hat trick at Wembley on Sunday will have a host of clubs sitting up and taking notice, and the Yorkshire Evening Post reports that Leeds are keen on handing the 31-year-old Preston striker a second spell at Elland Road.