The Premier League’s top clubs will undoubtedly be on standby after reports in Spain that Gareth Bale is set to leave Real Madrid this summer.
Mundo Deportivo claims that Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United are both interested in the winger, but it should be Spurs going all out to land their former star.
The Wales international has had a number of injury setbacks over recent seasons, with this campaign proving particularly frustrating.
Bale has started just 10 of Los Blancos’ 23 La Liga fixtures and whilst his six goals in the competition represent a decent record, it seems that the player is becoming disillusioned with life in the capital.
Fitness issues certainly appear to have played a part in unsettling the former Spurs man and it is believed that he is keen on a return to England’s top flight.
There is no better place for Bale to regain his form than with Tottenham, the club at which he became a household name over the course of his six-year stay in North London.
After a difficult start to life with the Lilywhites, the Cardiff-born star came of age with a Champions League hat-trick against Inter Milan in 2010.
In 2012-13, his final campaign at White Hart Lane, Bale bagged 26 goals and 15 assists across all competitions to establish himself as one of the most productive wide players in world football.
Whilst Tottenham have progressed significantly since then, landing a footballer of his quality would be a real statement of intent ahead of the move into a new stadium, showing that the team is ready to compete regularly with Europe’s elite on the biggest stages.
The wing positions are arguably one of the few that needs strengthening, although the recent acquisition of Lucas Moura should go some way to improving Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino’s options on that flank.
Nonetheless, Bale is more than capable of playing on the left or through the centre and could be a perfect foil for the prolific Harry Kane, who has taken on the role of talisman in recent years.
The Madrid star would bring a winning mentality, having accumulated no less than 12 trophies, including three Champions Leagues, during his time on the continent.
And although Bale will turn 29 in the summer, he still has a good few years ahead of him at the top level and will likely be available for less than the £85 million for which he was sold nearly five years ago.
The chance to snap up a world-class talent does not come along often and Tottenham should not let it pass by – can you imagine Bale and Kane in the Spurs attack together?
No
I could imagine Bale in the treatment room.
Just won’t happen. Our wage structure would not permit such a move and he is prone to injury these days. Wonderful player but his best years are behind him and Mr Levy would not sanction £85 mil.