Image courtesy of the Tottenham Hotspur Facebook page
According to Spanish press reports, Tottenham Spurs striker Gareth Bale and Real Madrid have agreed to a six-year deal. However, this deal has not been announced by Tottenham, and manager Andre Villas-Boas made it clear on Tuesday that Bale is not for sale.
Whether or not a deal has been completed, Bale has been a hot commodity this transfer period. Real Madrid is not the only team seeking his services. Reportedly, Manchester United is looking to make an EPL-record transfer bid for Bale. Ahead of the Asia Tourney, Villas-Boas clearly stated his and Tottenham’s plan with Bale:
“On Gareth, I want to repeat what I was telling you last season and what I was telling you from the beginning of [pre-season] so I cannot extend myself … He is a player that we are willing to continue to have, he’s a Tottenham player, he’s one of the most fantastic players in the world at the moment and we are counting on him for the future.”
This will not be the last time we hear transfer rumors about Bale. Many teams are and will be seeking his services, but if Villas-Boas’ plan is followed through, Bale will be going nowhere and be a Spur for the 2013-14 EPL season.
I can’t blame Tottenham for planning to keep Bale. He is their best player and the main reason why they finished near the top of the standings last season. However, if they can get a record transfer bid, they could spend that money on other quality players. At the same time, I’m not surprised that Bale wants to play elsewhere and compete for either the EPL league title or on a higher-quality team like Real Madrid.
While the reports will continue to pour in, this soap opera is just starting and the best is yet to come.
Phil Naegely is a sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter @pnaegelyRS and add him to your circles on Google.
