BARCELONA TRANSFER NEWS: Neymar, Bale, Silva, Zabaleta, Jose Angel Involved In Latest Speculation

While the focus of much of Barcelona is currently on the club's Copa del Rey final with Athletic Bilbao on Friday, the club will also already be exploring options to improve their squad this summer.

With Tito Vilanova taking the helm for next season, he is sure to have his own ideas on players who could add something to the Barca side, despite his close links with Pep Guardiola.

Gareth Bale has long been mentioned in connection with the Catalan giants. Although having risen to prominence as a winger at Tottenham, Barcelona and Vilanova is said to view the lightning Welshman as an attacking left-back.

Dani Alves's forward surges from right-back have been key to the Barcelona's play during their incredible recent success and Bale is someone who could offer a similar threat on the opposite flank.

Tottenham may have missed out on Champions League qualification, but the club remains determined not to let one of their stars leave on the cheap. Quoting reports in Spain, the Telegraph reports that Barcelona has been given a £36 million valuation for the 25-year-old. However, Barca believes that that fee will come down considerably should Bale ask for a move.

That request may not be forthcoming with the latest reports in the Daily Mail claiming that Bale is happy to remain in North London.

With that in mind, Barcelona could be lining up an alternative to Bale. But, according to his agent, that will not be Jose Angel.

The Spaniard was interesting Barcelona last summer before eventually moving to Roma from Sporting Gijon. But now that Luis Enrique has left as manager of the Serie A side, reports had suggested that Barca could reignite their interest.

Speculation that would appear wide of the mark.

Absolutely not, I know nothing of Barca's interest, Alfredo Martinez said, according to Goal.com. He wants to stay in the Italian capital, without doubt.

He's happy in this team, this city and with his contract. We know that Roma will change their coach, but that changes nothing for us.

Recent reports have also linked Barcelona with a move for another full-back in Pablo Zabaleta. The Argentine was mentioned as a potential replacement for Dani Alves, who has been linked with a move away from the Camp Nou this summer.

But, according to the Daily Mail, Zabaleta will resist Barcelona's advances and instead sign a new deal with Premier League champions Manchester City.

There could be more promising news regarding Barcelona's long-time pursuit of latest Brazilian superstar Neymar.

The 20-year-old is already a star for his national side and is being courted by Europe's biggest clubs. Yet it was widely expected that the Santos forward would not move until after the 2014 World Cup. A position that may now be changing.

He will not leave until at least next year, but we are interested in talking with the clubs that want him, Santos president Luis Alvaro Ribeiro said, according to Goal.com.

It is not just Mourinho's Real Madrid; Barcelona, Juventus, Chelsea and PSG also want him.

There could be a Brazilian arriving in Catalonia this summer, though, with Barcelona maintaining a strong interest in Milan's Thiago Silva.

The impressive center-back is seen as the man to become a regular fixture at the heart of Barca's defense with Carlos Puyol now 34 and Gerard Pique out of favor toward the end of the season.

But the 27-year-old's agent Paulo Tonietto has said that the player wants to stay at Milan, despite interest from Barcelona and Manchester City.

Neither I nor Thiago have had contacts with Manchester City or Barcelona, he said, according to the Guardian. His preference is certainly Milan. Only the club executives of Milan can decide whether to sell the player. Right now the rumours circulating regarding his future are simply media speculation.