LONDON (AP) _ Thierry Henry for FC Barcelona? Samuel Eto'o for Arsenal? Didier Drogba for AC Milan?

Transfer speculation is increasing in Europe, with big stars being linked with moves even though there is no hard evidence they want to leave their current clubs.

Although the Spanish season is approaching a thrilling finale with the title race at stake in Sunday's final round of games, all the other major domestic leagues have finished.

While most of Europe's stars are resting aching muscles, their agents have gone into overdrive. The newspapers and sports magazines feed off every word and spin them into speculation.

When Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon said Sunday there was a clause in David Beckham's contract to keep the England midfielder at the club _ rather than move to Major League Soccer with the Los Angeles Galaxy _ the player's agent was quick to deny it.

``There is no intention of getting out of the Galaxy deal or reneging on the Galaxy deal,'' Simon Oliveira said, confirming that Beckham would be moving to the United States next month.

When France Football magazine reported that Barcelona was negotiating a deal with Henry to leave Arsenal for the Spanish club, his agent not only dismissed the report but said he would sue.

Henry, who still has three years left on his Arsenal contract, isn't saying exactly where he will be next season. While some reports suggested that Henry and Barcelona striker Eto'o might swap clubs, media in Spain quoted the Cameroon star as saying he would love to play alongside the French star at Barcelona.

``I'm staying. If it weren't true I'd say it as nobody is forcing me to stay,'' Eto'o said Tuesday. ``And if they want to get rid of me, they should tell me so I can start looking. But I don't think the club has thought of selling me.''

But the speculation goes on and on, and fans across Europe are scratching their heads wondering who's going where.

Wednesday's editions of Gazzetta dello Sport said Chelsea striker Drogba was ``intrigued by Milan,'' although the paper suggested that Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti seemed more interested in signing Eto'o.

Promoted back to Serie A after being relegated in a match-fixing scandal, Juventus is looking to strengthen its squad and reportedly chasing Klaas Jan Huntelaar of Ajax.

Carlos Tevez is another star in demand.

The Argentina striker's goals helped West Ham win its fight against relegation from the Premier League, although his appearances for the Hammers caused a major storm. West Ham's rivals said he shouldn't have been allowed to play for the London club, which admitted it broke Premier League rules by signing the Corinthians striker from a third party.

Inter Milan and Manchester United are among clubs being linked with Tevez, although the Red Devils have already been busy in the transfer market.

After winning his ninth Premier League title and taking the championship away from Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson signed Calgary native Owen Hargreaves from Bayern Munich, Brazilian midfielder Anderson from FC Porto and Portuguese winger Nani from Sporting Lisbon.

The arrivals _ for a combined 50 million pounds (C$105 million) _ are proof that American owner Malcolm Glazer is prepared to back Ferguson with transfer funds.

At Liverpool, there are reports that coach Rafa Benitez is furious that his own American owners aren't giving him the same support.

Immediately after Liverpool lost the Champions League final to AC Milan on May 23, Benitez said the club needed to act quickly to strengthen the squad with big names. So far George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks have kept the Liverpool chequebook in their pockets. Gillett backed Benitez on Tuesday but added the club would not squander its money ``like a drunken sailor.''

After a poor season in which it finished fourth in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich has signed Italian striker Luca Toni and French winger Franck Ribery. Claudio Pizarro has departed for Chelsea and Bayern Munich wants to get Miroslav Klose from Werder Bremen, which wants his World Cup co-striker Lukas Podolski in return.

Even if it wins the Spanish league on Sunday for the first time in four years, Real Madrid is likely to make several changes.

The ``Galactico'' era is over at the Bernabeu with Beckham following Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Roberto Carlos through the departure door. They could even be followed by coach Fabio Capello.

According to Spanish media reports, Madrid is keen on hiring AC Milan's Kaka and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, while Chelsea winger Arjen Robben is another transfer target.

Chelsea, which has the most spending power of all thanks to Russian owner Roman Abramovich, has been strangely quiet, despite the arrival of Pizarro from Bayern on a free transfer and midfielder Steve Sidwell from Reading.