Real Madrid's £50m swap deal for Bale not inconceivable

Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly lining up a £50 million bid including defender Fabio Coentrao for Tottenham star Gareth Bale and the offer that is supposed to be on the table could be convincing enough for the deal to materialise.

Bale, 23 year, signed a new 5 year contract with Spurs in the summer, which suggests his intentions of staying at White Hart Lane, although this does not prevent the ongoing links between the Welshman and Real Madrid. 

Bale has claimed he is “not afraid of going to play abroad if the opportunity arose” and that it would help him “learn another language, get to know other people, another country and grow as a person”, adding that he would “seriously need to consider it”, should a transfer sum be agreed.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has admitted that ‘every player has his price’ albeit the sizable £60 million price tag which has been set, despite the ‘partnership’ which was signed between the two clubs which suggested creating ‘commercial tie-ups’ and the ‘first refusal to buy certain players’.

This sudden rise in price has caused Mourinho to speak with the president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, who is understood to be preparing a £50 million-plus bid, which could also use Fabio Coentrao as “bait” for the Welsh left-winger.

Coentrao, the 24 year-old Portuguese international, has only made two appearances for Real Madrid this season, which suggests that his departure from the Santiago Bernabeu is more than likely, whether it's to Spurs or elsewhere.

Bale’s stock has also risen from the amount of positive press received – not least from Harry Redknapp - Bale’s former boss - who claimed: “He’s at a big club, he’s loved by the fans and the manager, and, most importantly, he’s the best player in the best league of the world...he should'nt be in any rush to leave”.

Croatia coach Igor Stimac rates Bale ahead of  fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs - even at his peak.

“I played against Ryan Giggs and of course he was a good player too, world class," he said. “But I think Bale is better than Giggs. He has all of Giggs’s skills but he is stronger and he’s much more difficult for a team to deal with.” 

Due to the hefty price tag, Mourinho is reportedly ready to offload several of his stars, including Kaka and Mezut Ozil, targeted by  Liverpool and Manchester United respectively, as well as other undisclosed members of the Madrid strike force.

Ex-Spurs and Real Madrid player Luka Modric offered his support to his club signing Bale, stating: “I think he can do it. He is certainly good enough to play at the highest level”.

He also handed a replica Madrid shirt to his former teammate after Croatia’s 2-0 victory over Wales in World Cup qualifying.

Modric emphasised his support for the move, revealing: “For me, they [Ronaldo and Bale] are the best two wingers in the world. I hope he will come to us.” 

Mourinho will hope that Andre Villas-Boas' previous interest in Coentrao, when he tried to sign the full-back during his time at Chelsea, plus the hefty monetary offer will be enough to tempt Tottenham into selling their star player.

Both Villas-Boas and Levy have exercised their fighting spirit to keep Bale and as Redknapp said: “I wouldn’t swap him for anyone in England right now.”

As they say, money talks, but will the offer from Real be loud enough?

 

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