Tottenham fears losing Bale

Bernabeu side have leapfrogged bitter rivals in race to land the 22-year-old, who is rated in the £40m-plus bracket by Spurs, even though he is said to prefer a move to Camp Nou

A number of senior Spurs figures expect the Bernabeu to be the player’s next port of call. The commercial riches of Real mean they are better placed than any club to satisfy Uefa’s new financial fair play regulations and continue hunting the ‘Galactico’ signings that have been their trademark for the last decade.

Nevertheless, Spurs sources are confident that Bale will be a Tottenham player at the start of the 2012-13 season if they clinch a top-four finish even if, as expected, Redknapp takes residence in the Wembley dugout.

A move abroad this summer is likely to be 12 months too early for Bale, who turns 23 in July and is regarded as bashful by nature and fond of his home comforts.