As the end of the summer transfer window gets ready to come to a close, the one transfer which everyone who follows soccer has been waiting to happen is that of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.
While every single indicator and sign point to Bale joining Real Madrid within any day, one thing that Tottenham have done is that the team is adequately assembling a team that will be able to handle the departure of Bale.
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The significance of Tottenham having already taken the steps necessary to be able to adequately compete for a Champions League spot has to do with its past failures. In the past, the club’s executive chairman Daniel Levy has played hardball when it came to the selling of star players and not budging to sell if the valuation was not met.
This was seen when the club sold the likes of Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Luka Modric, and is currently happening with the potential transfer of Bale.
Unlike in the past when the coach had no chance to use the money on the sale of those players, Andre Villas-Boas has had no issue with the assistance of Franco Baldini in going about strengthening the team with an eye towards the eventual departure of Bale.
The latest player which Tottenham have acquired is bringing in Brazilian attacking midfielder Willian from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala. Willian is a player who has proven himself to be one of the best players in UEFA Champions League play in his time with Ukranian club Shakhtar Donetsk.
With the addition of Willian to go along with the additions of Etienne Capoue, Paulinho, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli and the potential addition of Erik Lamela, there is no question that Tottenham have been proactive in preparing for the next stage.
While Tottenham were going to seriously challenging for a Champions League spot this 2013-14 Premier League season with Bale, they have now for sure ensured this can happen even without him.
Lucas Carreras is a contributing Soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow Lucas on Twitter by following him @maldini3fan and you can add him to your network on Google.