This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Tottenham are ready to cash in on hot property Gareth Bale in the summer – a decision which will spark a flood of interest from home and abroad.
Despite insisting they are not a selling club there is a realisation in the Tottenham boardroom that any bid in excess of £30million would have to be considered.
It has alerted Manchester United and Liverpool together with continental big guns like Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
Failure to finish in the top four and another tilt at the financially rewarding Champions League will hit Spurs hard in the close season.
With the on-going problems of a cramped White Hart Lane failing to generate the match-day cash that neighbours Arsenal, for instance, enjoy, Tottenham remain vulnerable when it comes to hanging on to their best players.
Although Bale, 21, only recently signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract, that won't protect Spurs when the tempting offers are made.
United boss Ferguson is planning a big summer spending spree and Bale fi ts the criteria of young Tottenham now ready to cash in on Bale outstanding players with years ahead of them.
Bale is also on Liverpool's wish-list. Manager Kenny Dalglish and director of football Damien Comolli are both anxious to introduce more width to the side and owners John W Henry and Tom Werner are prepared to stump up the cash.
They are already moving in on Newcastle United full-back Jose Enrique in a £10m deal and would love to add Bale to their squad.
Inter are still smarting from Bale's hat-trick in Tottenham's 4-3 Champions League defeat earlier in the season. They are prepared to meet any asking price and Real Madrid will join any bidding.
Spurs boss Harry Redknapp will insist Bale is not for sale - but in the summer it will be a different matter and the big money will talk.
Source: Sunday Express
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.
Tagged: bale , gareth bale