Tottenham Hotspur could make a move for Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale in January following Jose Mourinho’s appointment, say Diario AS.
The report claims the Portuguese boss is a big admirer of Bale and tried on several occasions to lure him to Manchester United when he was at the helm at Old Trafford.
Bale starred for the North London club over several seasons before joining Madrid in a landmark €101m deal in the summer of 2013, ironically mere months after Mourinho left Los Blancos.
A report from Marca earlier this month claimed Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua will attempt to sign the Welshman in January.
The same outlet add that the relationship between Bale and Zinedine Zidane is essentially non-existent and the two are drifting further apart.
The Welshman was close to a move to the Far East this summer before Los Blancos president Florentino Perez vetoed the deal late on, with Madrid not being entitled to a transfer fee.
A separate report in ESPN FC from last month claimed the situation with the player and the club is now irreversible and the player has his heart set on a departure from the Spanish capital.
Earlier in October, Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague spoke on the BBC and wrote in Spanish news outlet Diario AS that the Welshman is angry with the situation he finds himself in and is now ready to walk out of the club.
It has been outlined that Bale was mystified by sitting out the recent Champions League clash against Club Brugge with no explanation, as he was totally fit and injury-free for the clash.
The 30-year-old had appeared to be returning to full form and fitness in the opening weeks of the campaign but is now said to be unhappy with his treatment by boss Zinedine Zidane and the club generally.
“We have a good relationship, no matter what is said about that in the press,” Zidane told reporters last week, as he appeared to refute such allegations.
“He never talks about leaving and I would not welcome his departure in winter. He stayed in the summer and it was the best for everyone.”
Bale has three years remaining on his Madrid contract and his hefty wage bill meant that he had no strong desire to exit the club this summer despite the wishes of the hierarchy in the Spanish capital.
A move to Chinese football broke down at Madrid’s request – as they would not have received a transfer fee – and Bale scored twice, before being sent-off, in a recent 2-2 draw against Villarreal.
Bale has won four Champions Leagues, one La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and three Uefa Super Cups and Club World Cups during his time at Real, scoring over 100 goals across six years.
