REAL MADRID MAKES OFFER FOR BALE

Reports have suggested that Real Madrid are ready to make an offer for the 24-year-old Wales international. Bale in numbers Age: 24 Premier League games: 146 Goals: 42 Yellow cards: 15 Red cards: 1 Wales caps: 41 "There was contact between the club and his agent last year and there is ongoing contact between the club and his agent," Villas-Boas said. "Talks are ongoing but that doesn't mean there is an agreement." Villas-Boas, who has insisted Bale is not for sale, is hopeful that a new deal will be reached between the player and the club despite admitting no developments have been made. Former Southampton player Bale signed a new four-year contract in June 2012 but continues to attract interest from top clubs after another impressive season in which he scored 26 goals for the London club. "We renewed his contract at the beginning of last season, if you remember, and it's something that is being dealt with by the chairman and the agent," the Spurs boss continued. Valencia striker Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado scored 24 La Liga goals last season for Spanish side Valencia "At the moment we're confident that the player is under contract at Tottenham, as was done last year. "It's something that we're speaking about, but there aren't any developments." Tottenham, who are are currently in Hong Kong for the Asia Trophy, have also been linked to Valencia forward Roberto Soldado. Despite the fact a deal has yet to be reached for the former Real Madrid and Getafe player, Villas-Boas has spoken about his admiration for the 28-year-old Spaniard who scored 24 goals in La Liga last season. "He is a quality player, he has done well at Valencia for the last few seasons," added Villas-Boas. "He has had a good education from the Real Madrid school and he is a player which we are interested in adding.

CISSE AGREES TO WEAR THE WONGA LOGO JERSEY

Cisse, a Muslim, pulled out of Newcastle's pre-season tour after telling the club he was not prepared to promote the money-lending company. However, after a week of talks, both sides are satisfied and Cisse is now available to play for Newcastle again. Papiss Cisse factfile Age: 28 Nationality: Senegalese Clubs: Douanes Dakar, Metz, Freiburg & Newcastle Newcastle goals: 26 The 28-year-old will return to training with the first-team squad on Friday. Cisse is one of a number of Muslims at Newcastle but he was the only one to object to the club's choice of shirt sponsor. The Senegal forward has been training on his own while his team-mates have been on tour in Portugal. In October, it was announced that high-interest pay-day lender Wonga would take over from Virgin Money as Newcastle's sponsor from the 2013-14 season. It is thought the contract is worth around £8m a year to the club. Speaking in June, PFA deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes told BBC Sport: "We're all aware that clubs need to generate revenue and sometimes have to use a wide range of companies. "However, if someone feels very, very strongly that it's not compatible with their beliefs, then some sort of solution should be found." Cisse joined the Magpies in January 2012 and has scored 26 times in all competitions.

CHRIS BROWN DECLARES HES SINGLE

Is Chris Brown done with on/off girlfriend, Karrueche Tran? He hooked up with her again after breaking up with Rihanna in May but it seems her services are no longer needed... . Chris Brown tells Hollywood Life, . "[Fans have] seen me on and off again with different girls, you know who they are, but right now, as a 24-year-old man, I just choose to be single!" . ''I'm still good friends with them. [Now] it's just me being focused with my music and doing this stuff. . Right now, I'm in my prime

LAGBAJA ATTENDS DAUGHTERS WEDDING WITHOUT MASK

Masked Afrobeat musician, Abisade Ologunde popularly known as Lagbaja’s first daughter, Moyosade recently married her longtime beau, Olamide Obilana at Motherland in Opebi. Moyosade attended Pennsylvania State University School of Management where she bagged a Masters in business administration and now works as a change management specialist at a US firm. It was learnt that at the wedding guests were prevented from taking photos so as not to unmask the father of the bride, Lagbaja, who came without his mask. The Drama: Lagbaja gave a caveat to his in-laws that pictures and video coverage avoided by either family members or friends, except the official photographer and the video coverage man that were hired for the purpose. Consequently, getting access to the venue could be likened to a camel passing through the needle. Stern-looking security mounted the gate of Motherlan’, while guests were subjected to serious screening. So, God help you if you were not invited. It was, however, obvious that some of the groom’s family members were displeased with the arrangement. It was so bad that many, who were bounced, had to make frantic calls to their relatives who were already seated in the compound before they were allowed in. Somewhere within the premises were different caterers who mounted their stands. They were so courteous and generous in their sense of catering. The guests were seated under a large marquee and behind beautifully designed white tables that all bore artificial flowers. On the podium was the seat of the bride and the groom coated with gold and royal blue colours. My Daily Newswatch reports that gifts were beautifully wrapped with orange coloured net clothes. Findings revealed that the wrappings of the gifts were contracted to some specialists.Both alaga iduro and the alaga ijoko, who were elegantly dressed, really spiced up the memorable event. But for the fact that he’s the father of the bride, you would have looked out for him without success. Lagbaja sat quietly among the Ologundes that were seated in the front row. Tall, dark-complexioned Lagbaja was clad in an army green buba and sokoto with a matching red cap to match. Sitting beside him was his beautiful wife in a yellow iro and buba outfit, with a chocolate brown headgear that had a touch of yellow. Moyosade and Olamide met in the United States of America and decided to come to Nigeria to seal their love affair. The wedding ceremony, which was attended by the crème de la crème, screeched to a halt with a closing prayer by Wale Ologunde. Although the event had come and gone, it will remain the talk of the town for a long time, as the guests were soaked.

EKITI DEPUTY GOV. CONDEMNS CHILD MARRIAGE.

More condemnations have continued to trail the Senate endorsement of the child marriage in the country. Among prominent Nigerians and groups that kicked against the resolution on Tuesday were the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; wife of the Oyo State Governor, Florence Ajimobi; Gender and Development Action and Child Rights Advocates and a United States-based group, CANAN. Adelabu, in a statement by her media aide, Bunmi Ogunmodede, said the resolution of the Senate was unfortunate. According to her, it is unfortunate that those saddled with the responsibility to make laws that would guarantee the future of the country, passed a motion to mortgage the future the Nigerian child. She wondered what guided the lawmakers in to legalise child marriage when the constitution recognised those below 18 years as children. The deputy governor said, “It is unfortunate that senators who were voted for to make laws that will move this nation forward are endorsing child marriage, a law that would terminate the future of children. “It is agonising for a girl, who is below 18, to be forced into marriage or to be impregnated. A child is a child and not a bride or a groom.” She added, “Do not let anybody deceive you. Early marriage terminates your future. It is like living your future in the present. It stalls your opportunities. Say no to child marriage and child labour.” Ajimobi said the proposal would pose a great danger to the Nigerian girl and urged women to protest against the initiative. She spoke during her investiture as the Patron of the Girls Guide of Nigeria in Ibadan. She said, “Those who voted for the child marriage law under the review of the constitution acted in a despicable act. It is a backward step. “Since time immemorial, the girl-child has continued to face a lot of challenges and the challenges persist. “We must focus diligently in rescuing her in the danger that looms as it could finally affect her if we fold our arms and watch events unfold”. CANAN through its Executive Director, Laolu Akande, said it found it strange that Nigerian lawmakers took such a decision. The group said, “It is shocking that we can find a significant number of the Nigerian upper chamber lawmakers that are so uneducated and uninformed, and at least one that is currently keeping an underage wife.” GADA at a meeting with state legislators on ‘Gender Issues in the Constitution Review Process,’ in Benin, said the senators’ action negated the tenets of the international treaties that Nigeria entered