TOTTENHAM are on the brink of re-signing Gareth Bale in a stunning £20million loan deal.
SunSport exclusively revealed Spurs were frantically putting together a package to take the Wales star from Real Madrid for the rest of the season.
Real Madrid’s Wales superstar Gareth Bale is nearing a sensational return to SpursCredit: PA:Press Association
Tottenham are also poised to beat Man Utd to the signing of Sergio ReguilonCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Boss Jose Mourinho’s side are close to bringing Bale back to the Premier League, with the 31-year-old preferring a Tottenham return over interest from Manchester United.
And Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett confirmed it was on when he said last night: “Gareth still loves Spurs. We are talking. It’s where he wants to be.”
Spurs view Bale as one of their own despite his departure to Real in 2013 — for a then-world record fee of £86million.
Bale sent a plea to Premier League clubs to end his Madrid hell less than a fortnight ago after he was frozen out by Zinedine Zidane.
He even accused the Spanish giants of blocking a move to China at the 11th hour last summer.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is desperate to make the deal happen — and SunSport understands an agreement was close last night for Bale to make his comeback.
Levy reckons a second coming at Spurs for Bale would help appease the club’s fans and lift the gloom that has descended since Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Everton.
After the home loss, Mourinho expressed his desire, and also appeared confident it would happen, to sign a striker to ease the burden on Harry Kane.
United also wanted Bale as a potential transfer target, should they fail to land Jadon Sancho.
Real are keen to get Bale off the wage bill — but are willing to continue to pay up to 50 per cent of his astonishing £650,000-a-week salary.
Spurs fans could soon see Gareth Bale back in their side after seven years in SpainCredit: Reuters
Bale, whose Bernabeu contract runs out in the summer of 2022, won four Champions League titles with the Spanish champions but has played just 100 minutes since football resumed in June.
He led Wales in two Nations League victories over Finland and Bulgaria with his fitness improving in the latter, completing 90 minutes for the first time since January.
Spurs also have their £1billion new stadium still to pay off and that has so far restricted their activity in this transfer window to two £15m signings in midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and defender Matt Doherty, plus a free in keeper Joe Hart.
But the addition of Bale — who netted 55 times in 203 appearances after signing from Southampton for £7m in 2007 — would undoubtedly add goals to the Tottenham team.
Bale hailed the Special One in December. He said: “Mourinho there is an amazing statement, he’s a serial winner.”
Spurs have also hijacked United’s deal for Madrid full-back Sergio Reguilon.
The 23-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Sevilla, is surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu and United were in negotiations with the Spaniard last week over a £20m deal.
But after United failed to agree to a buy-back clause, Spurs are close to signing the left-back on a permanent basis.–
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
