Bale is ‘close’ to moving to Spurs
AGENT: MADRID ARE PUSHING FOR A PERMANENT TRANSFER
Gareth Bale is “close” to sealing a sensational move back to Tottenham but the deal is “complicated”, Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett said yesterday.
The Wales international has been frozen out by Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane and he said earlier this month he was open to returning to the Premier League.
Manchester United have also expressed an interest in Bale but they see him as more of a backup option behind other targets, including Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho.
That has left Spurs in pole position to sign Bale, who left the club for a then world-record fee of £85 million in 2013.
When asked about Tottenham’s move for Bale, Barnett said: “It’s close but not done.” He added: “It’s a complicated deal.”
Bale has two years left on a contract that pays him around €30 million a year at Real Madrid.
Madrid are pushing for a permanent transfer that could see Tottenham pay next to nothing up front for the 31-year-old, with various performance-related bonuses added on.
Spurs would prefer a loan move that involves Madrid covering a portion of the 31-year-old’s wages.
“No problems, the clubs are negotiating,” added Barnett.
Bale has won the Champions League four times and won two La Liga titles during his time in
Spain, but his turbulent relationship with Zidane has seen his role significantly reduced in recent years.
He started just one match when the 2019/20 season resumed after the coronavirus hiatus and caused a stir with his behaviour while he watched in the stands.
Bale almost joined Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning last year before Madrid pulled the plug on the deal and he has accused the club of making it “very difficult” to leave.
The winger still has an emotional attachment to Tottenham after joining the club from Southampton as a teenager, when he developed into one of the world’s most exciting forwards under then Spurs manager Harry Redknapp. – AFP