Gareth Bale could be set to return to Tottenham Hotspur with Real Madrid keen to offload the Welsh winger this summer.
The Spanish club paid Tottenham a then world record transfer fee in excess of £85 million to secure his services in 2013. However, having failed to replace Cristiano Ronaldo as the club’s talisman, Real Madrid will reportedly use Bale as a makeweight in a deal to sign Christian Eriksen according to The Sunday Express.
Eriksen’s contract with Tottenham is set to expire in July 2020 and, if he fails to agree to a new deal, he would be allowed to leave on a free transfer.
However, Madrid are set to table a bid for Bale plus £50 million to land their key target as soon as possible.
Despite a slow start in London, the Danish playmaker has excelled this season. Eriksen currently boasts seven goals and 12 assists in 36 games for Tottenham this term.
Bale to Spurs: The perfect reunion?
Ronaldo’s £100 million switch to Juventus last summer seemed like the perfect opportunity for Bale to step up and take over as Madrid’s star man. However, it now appears that Bale’s time in the Spanish capital is coming to an end.
Public criticism from Marcelo and Thibaut Courtois reportedly led to his refusal to celebrate with his teammates last week. And the jeers from his club’s supporters following the 1-0 defeat to Barcelona on Saturday will have hardly convinced him that his future is best spent in Madrid.
Bale feels that he has been scapegoated by Real Madrid’s supporters throughout what has been a disappointing season for the club. Despite the criticism that he has attracted, Bale has managed 13 goals and five assists in 33 games so far this season.
The Welshman has come under fire through his Real Madrid spell and is often linked with an exit.
Yet, should Bale leave now, he would depart with an impressive tally of 77 goals and 42 assists in 147 games.
If Tottenham are to land their former star, they will have to contest with Chelsea and Manchester United, with both Premier League clubs reportedly interested according to the Metro. With Madrid reportedly keen on signing Eden Hazard this summer, Chelsea could use that to secure their target.
However, given the years already shared between Tottenham and Bale, it could prove to be the perfect reunion should they be reunited.
Bale, still loved by the club’s fans, will be given the respect that he clearly feels he deserves. With Tottenham on the brink of breaking into the Premier League’s top ranks, if he rewards the club with the incredible displays that we all know he is capable of, he could be just the man to take Tottenham to the next level.
