Real Madrid target Bale

Gareth Bale's electric start to the season hasn't gone unnoticed by some of Europe's biggest teams. Reports in Spain claim Real Madrid are looking to move for the Welshman when the January transfer window opens. Bale, has been used mainly as a winger by Harry Redknapp this season but it looks as though Jose Mourinho wants to sign the Welshman as a left-back.

Madrid narrowly missed out on Aleksandar Kolarov who opted to join Manchester City and have been left short in that department. Although I am sure Gareth Bale would be obviously flattered by the interest, Spurs would be highly unlikely to sell possibly our best player.

Bale has recently signed a new long term deal at White Hart Lane, committing himself to the club until 2014. His start to this season has seen him look like a world-class winger and he's got an eye for goal to. Remember that strike against Stoke?



His other man of the match performance came in the Champions League qualifier against Swiss side Young Boys. Bale had a hand in all four of Tottenham's goals as we went on to reach the group stages. The Spurs betting suggests that we have an decent chance of progressing in the tournament and Bale will no doubt be a vital part of any success.

It has been a dramatic change in fortunes for the players who signed for the club from Southampton as a 17-year-old. It took nearly two years and 24 games for Bale to finish on the winning Spurs side in a league match.

Of course, that was a statistic that couldn't really be blamed on him and he has now developed into the quality winger we see before us today. Bale has a delicious delivery from the left flank and is also deadly when it come to set pieces. He has enough pace to cause oppositions full-backs no end of problems. If Redknapp can keep Bale on track, we will have an excellent player and Spurs will be a consistent challenger for silverware.

However, all Spurs players will need to be at their very best as they head into a tough week. Although the Aston Villa betting suggests Tottenham will pick up three points next Saturday, we will have to do so after a midweek Champion's League game.

Should it make it easier for us just because we are facing the underdogs of our group? No, I don't think so. FC Twente drew 2-2 with Inter Milan and showed that they can compete. Bale and the rest of the lads will have to dig deep if we are to win both matches.



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