Daniel Levy will reluctantly bow to Gareth Bale’s desire to leave Tottenham if Real Madrid offer a world record £85million — plus a player.
The Spurs chairman’s stance has shifted after Bale decided during the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong that he wants to move to the Bernabeu.
Levy has maintained throughout the summer that his star asset will not be sold — and he still wants to keep him — but the Spurs chairman recognises Real Madrid’s pursuit is relentless.
Touch down: Gareth Bale arrives at Heathrow Airport from Hong Kong in the early hours
Nothing to smile about: Bale, who may be subject of a world record £85m bid from Real Madrid, clearly has a lot on his mind
On his way? Gareth bale is set for talks with Spurs over a world record £85million move to Real Madrid
Crunch talks: Bale (left) will discuss his future with agent Jonathan Barnett (right) and Daniel Levy (far right) and the Tottenham chairman is likely to bow to the player's requests if the sky-high price is met by Real Madrid
New boss? New Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti wants Bale as his first marquee signing at the Bernabeu
Bahamas-based businessman Joe Lewis, who is Tottenham’s largest shareholder, will have the ultimate say if, as expected, Real Madrid follow their public interest with a formal offer.
Levy, who flew back from the Far East to London on Sunday to discuss Bale’s future with club officials, will make a series of demands if Real can come up with the cash.
He wants the money up front and there is still a possibility he will demand a Real Madrid player in addition to a world record fee.
The Spanish giants paid Manchester United £80m in a lump sum when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo following the Champions League defeat against Barcelona in 2009.
Touchline: Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to keep hold of his key man
Dynamic duo: Bale thrived under Villas-Boas' management at White Hart Lane last season
But Real Madrid want to structure the Bale deal so that they pay a sizeable chunk up front, and stagger the rest of the fee over the course of his contract.
Portugal defender Fabio Coentrao, who kept Brazilian left back Marcelo out of the team at Real Madrid, and Argentina winger Angel di Maria are being offered as part of the package.
Bale has been given two days off along with the rest of the Spurs squad after returning from Hong Kong at 5am yesterday.
But the PFA Player of the Year, who scored 21 goals in the Premier League last season, wants his future resolved this week.
Bale has missed the majority of Tottenham’s pre-season programme with a gluteal injury, but manager Andre Villas-Boas claims he will be fit to train this week. He will return to training tomorrow as Spurs prepare for their friendly against Claudio Ranieri’s Monaco on Saturday.
Real Madrid are travelling to America this week for the 2013 International Challenge Cup, and time is running out to get the deal done before the start of the season.
Tottenham’s Premier League campaign kicks off at Crystal Palace on August 18 and Madrid will kick off their campaign against Real Betis on the same weekend.
World Record: Any deal for Bale would eclipse the fee Real paid for star man Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009
It has also emerged that despite long-standing interest from United, Bale will only consider moving to the Bernabeu at this stage of his career.
Although Spurs are banking on his excellent relationship with Villas-Boas and his settled homelife, his agent’s company has an apartment in Marbella and Bale often spends time there when he is recovering from injury.
Real’s pursuit of Bale is so far advanced that they have already concluded background checks on the financial aspects of a deal, notably contractual obligations between Tottenham and Bale’s first club Southampton.
Holding his hands up: Bale will only consider moving to Real Madrid at this stage, not Manchester United
When Spurs signed Bale, they agreed to a 15 per cent sell-on clause. Although that was bought out by Spurs for £1.5m during a financial crisis at St Mary’s in 2007, FIFA solidarity clauses add to the complexity of their proposed bid.
Any club developing homegrown players between the age of 12 and 23 are entitled to up to five per cent of the transfer fee if the player subsequently moves to another team. Because Bale was on Southampton’s books between the ages of 12 and 17, they will be entitled to a mini windfall on a pro-rata basis of around £2m.
Bale is on around £80,000 a week at the moment and if he agrees an improved contract that will burst through their famous pay ceiling, Spurs will justify it because of his commercial importance to the club.
On his way: The Spanish media are clearly excited by the potential arrival of the Welsh winger, with sports paper AS even crediting 'Daily Mail' reports on their front page
Development: Southampton are set to recieve some of Bale's transfer fee for bringing him through
The player is plastered all over promotional material and the club will use that to justify a contract offer in excess of £150,000 a week.
That may still not be enough to keep him as Real continue their seduction campaign with the player’s agent.
Bale played in Tottenham’s pre-season opener at Swindon and scored in the 1-1 draw but was said to be injured when he missed the draw at Colchester a few days before they left for Hong Kong.
Although many suspect the gluteal injury that kept him on the sidelines was ‘diplomatic’, it is understood the problem is genuine. Bale was frustrated as he travelled halfway around the world with his team and wanted to play in both tune-up games during their stay.
Spurs made an improved bid of £23m for Valencia forward Roberto Soldado over the weekend, with technical director Franco Baldini attempting to clinch the deal. Spurs were offered the 28-year-old for £15m in January but overlooked a player who went on to score 24 goals in La Liga. Soldado, who is rated at £26m, has 11 caps for Spain, scoring six goals.
Poster boy: Bale is a valuable marketing tool for Spurs, with this poster in Times Square, New York
The Spurs chairman’s stance has shifted after Bale decided during the Barclays Asia Trophy in Hong Kong that he wants to move to the Bernabeu.
Levy has maintained throughout the summer that his star asset will not be sold — and he still wants to keep him — but the Spurs chairman recognises Real Madrid’s pursuit is relentless.
Touch down: Gareth Bale arrives at Heathrow Airport from Hong Kong in the early hours
Nothing to smile about: Bale, who may be subject of a world record £85m bid from Real Madrid, clearly has a lot on his mind
On his way? Gareth bale is set for talks with Spurs over a world record £85million move to Real Madrid
Crunch talks: Bale (left) will discuss his future with agent Jonathan Barnett (right) and Daniel Levy (far right) and the Tottenham chairman is likely to bow to the player's requests if the sky-high price is met by Real Madrid
New boss? New Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti wants Bale as his first marquee signing at the Bernabeu
Bahamas-based businessman Joe Lewis, who is Tottenham’s largest shareholder, will have the ultimate say if, as expected, Real Madrid follow their public interest with a formal offer.Levy, who flew back from the Far East to London on Sunday to discuss Bale’s future with club officials, will make a series of demands if Real can come up with the cash.
He wants the money up front and there is still a possibility he will demand a Real Madrid player in addition to a world record fee.
The Spanish giants paid Manchester United £80m in a lump sum when they signed Cristiano Ronaldo following the Champions League defeat against Barcelona in 2009.
Touchline: Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas is desperate to keep hold of his key man
Dynamic duo: Bale thrived under Villas-Boas' management at White Hart Lane last season
But Real Madrid want to structure the Bale deal so that they pay a sizeable chunk up front, and stagger the rest of the fee over the course of his contract.Portugal defender Fabio Coentrao, who kept Brazilian left back Marcelo out of the team at Real Madrid, and Argentina winger Angel di Maria are being offered as part of the package.
Bale has been given two days off along with the rest of the Spurs squad after returning from Hong Kong at 5am yesterday.
But the PFA Player of the Year, who scored 21 goals in the Premier League last season, wants his future resolved this week.
Bale has missed the majority of Tottenham’s pre-season programme with a gluteal injury, but manager Andre Villas-Boas claims he will be fit to train this week. He will return to training tomorrow as Spurs prepare for their friendly against Claudio Ranieri’s Monaco on Saturday.
Real Madrid are travelling to America this week for the 2013 International Challenge Cup, and time is running out to get the deal done before the start of the season.
Tottenham’s Premier League campaign kicks off at Crystal Palace on August 18 and Madrid will kick off their campaign against Real Betis on the same weekend.
World Record: Any deal for Bale would eclipse the fee Real paid for star man Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009
Although Spurs are banking on his excellent relationship with Villas-Boas and his settled homelife, his agent’s company has an apartment in Marbella and Bale often spends time there when he is recovering from injury.
Real’s pursuit of Bale is so far advanced that they have already concluded background checks on the financial aspects of a deal, notably contractual obligations between Tottenham and Bale’s first club Southampton.
Holding his hands up: Bale will only consider moving to Real Madrid at this stage, not Manchester United
Any club developing homegrown players between the age of 12 and 23 are entitled to up to five per cent of the transfer fee if the player subsequently moves to another team. Because Bale was on Southampton’s books between the ages of 12 and 17, they will be entitled to a mini windfall on a pro-rata basis of around £2m.
Bale is on around £80,000 a week at the moment and if he agrees an improved contract that will burst through their famous pay ceiling, Spurs will justify it because of his commercial importance to the club.
On his way: The Spanish media are clearly excited by the potential arrival of the Welsh winger, with sports paper AS even crediting 'Daily Mail' reports on their front page
Development: Southampton are set to recieve some of Bale's transfer fee for bringing him through
That may still not be enough to keep him as Real continue their seduction campaign with the player’s agent.
Bale played in Tottenham’s pre-season opener at Swindon and scored in the 1-1 draw but was said to be injured when he missed the draw at Colchester a few days before they left for Hong Kong.
Although many suspect the gluteal injury that kept him on the sidelines was ‘diplomatic’, it is understood the problem is genuine. Bale was frustrated as he travelled halfway around the world with his team and wanted to play in both tune-up games during their stay.
Spurs made an improved bid of £23m for Valencia forward Roberto Soldado over the weekend, with technical director Franco Baldini attempting to clinch the deal. Spurs were offered the 28-year-old for £15m in January but overlooked a player who went on to score 24 goals in La Liga. Soldado, who is rated at £26m, has 11 caps for Spain, scoring six goals.
Poster boy: Bale is a valuable marketing tool for Spurs, with this poster in Times Square, New York
