Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have apparently rejected a world record £ 85 million bid for star winger Gareth Bale from Real Madrid as they play hard ball in trying to keep their flyer at the club for one more season.
According to a report in a Spanish newspaper closely associated with Madrid, Bale has apparently told club chairman Daniel Levy that he wants UEFA Champions League football this season and would prefer joining the Spanish giants rather than Manchester United, who are also said to be monitoring his situation as they look for a marquee signing to kick off the reign of David Moyes at the club.
Spurs insists that it will take only a mind boggling offer for them to part with their star man and the £ 85 million valuation that Real have made for him falls much shorter of their own valuation. It is being reported that they want a staggering £ 103.5 million for the player they paid just a few million for back in 2007 when he moved to the club from Southampton.
But Real Madrid are not being deterred by the valuation of the player by Tottenham Hotspur and are willing to offer cash plus player in order to broker a deal with the club. It is being believed that they are willing to offer Argentine winger Angel di Maria along with £ 85 million in cash for Bale and apparently, manager Andre Villas Boas is also warming up to the idea as he sees the Argentine as a like for like replacement for the Welshman.
If Real do manage to snatch Bale from the clutches of Tottenham Hotspur, it will begin a stunning domino effect in the transfer market and the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal can only hope that the deal goes through.