THIRD TIME LUCKY

SPURS BOSS MOURINHO TO FINALLY SIGN BALE REAL STAR TO MAKE MOVE IN £13M-A-YEAR DEAL

TOTTENHAM boss Jose Mourinho’s third attempt to sign Gareth Bale is set to succeed, with a loan deal worth £13million a year bringing the Real Madrid star back to London.

Spurs have been in talks with Bale and Real about re-signing the 31-year-old for the rest of the season, although Mourinho – who tried to land the forward while manager of both Real and Manchester United – would not comment directly on the chances of a deal earlier yesterday.

Welshman Bale (below) left Spurs for Madrid for £85.3m in 2013 but has been frozen out under Zinedine Zidane.

Ahead of tonight’s Europa League tie at Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Mourinho (far right) admitted he was a long-time admirer and said: ‘I don’t comment on hypothetical stuff.

‘I tried to sign him for Real Madrid, which was not possible during my time there.

‘But the president followed my instinct and knowledge and the season I left he brought

Gareth to the club. There is no secret on that. Even Gareth knows that.’ Three years ago, while United boss, Mourinho said of Bale and his uncertain future at Real: ‘If he is not in the club’s plans, I will try to be waiting for him on the other side.’

Speaking before last night’s developments – with reports Bale was poised to head to London to complete the deal – his agent Jonathan Barnett suggested a move was imminent. He said: ‘ Gareth has spoken to Jose and explained how Spurs have a special place in his heart. It’s close but not done.

‘It’s a complicated deal. Without doubt Gareth is closer to leaving Madrid than at any time in the last seven years.’

And the possibility England midfielder Dele Alli could form part of a swap deal for Bale appeared to move closer when he was left out of the squad for tonight’s game in Bulgaria. Spurs are also set to sign Real’s Spain international left-back Sergio Reguilon for £27m.