Bale the bait for Real bid
Sunday Mail 57
Real Madrid plan to match whatever Manchester United offer Spurs for Mauricio Pochettino – and raise it by throwing in Gareth Bale.
The Spanish giants have been tracking Tottenham’s manager for the best part of two yea rs and were convinced they would land him when he left London.
But now United are firmly in the hunt for Pochettino after sacking Jose Mourinho last week and appointing Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer as interim boss.
That means Real must dig deep next summer to stand any chance of winning the battle for the Argentine.
Fi rst ly there is the £ 12million- a-year salary Pochettino could expect to earn at Old Trafford. Then there is the compensation fee to be paid, likely to be in the region of £ 45m.
That is where Bale enters the equation. Sources close to Real suggest they will give Spurs first option to buy back the Wales star – if it paves the way for them to lure Pochettino.
The prospect of Bale, 29, returning to the club he left five years ago for a thenworld record £ 85m would be tempting for Tottenham supremo Daniel Levy.
Re-signing the three-time Champions League winner would be a signi f icant statement going into their first full season at the new White Hart Lane.
Levy is no mood to lose Pochettino. Yet even the notoriously tough Spurs chief may find it impossible to keep the ex-Southampton and Espanyol coach amid interest from two of the world’s biggest clubs.
One possible way to convince Pochettino his future lies in London is for Levy to hand him significant transfer funds in January.
That’s the view of former Spurs defender Ter r y Fenwick who said: “I’m a big believer in Daniel. He has done a wonderful job.
“The squad is fantastic but I ’ m hoping Daniel and Mauricio get their heads together and bring in one or two world- class players. If they do, trophies will follow.
“If they don’t spend I think the manager will leave.”