Gareth Bale to Spurs transfer LIVE: Latest Tottenham updates as Real Madrid star arrives at training ground
Gareth Bale is in London today to complete his Tottenham loan move
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Gareth Bale is in London today to complete a one-year loan move from Real Madrid to his former club Tottenham Hotspur in one of the transfers of the summer.
Bale, 31, has enjoyed huge success in Madrid, winning four Champions League titles and two Liga crowns as well as the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup, two Uefa Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
But his time with the club has soured particularly since the reemergence of Zinedine Zidane as manager, and he has made clear his wish to return to the Premier League.
Speaking last night after Tottenham’s 2-1 win over Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Europa League, Jose Mourinho hinted at the move but refused to go into details, saying: "For me, at this moment, until I'm told Gareth Bale is a Tottenham player, I still think and feel and respect the fact that he's a Real Madrid player, so I'm not going to comment on a Real Madrid player."
Follow all the latest news below:
SAINTS BOSS ADAMANT OF INGS STAY
Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has slammed any talk of striker Danny Ings leaving the club for Tottenham.
Spurs are in the market for a back-up striker, and have been linked to several during this transfer window.
The latest name is Ings, with Jose Mourinho supposedly a fan of the 28-year-old.
However, during his press conference ahead of The Saints’ clash with Tottenham on Sunday, Hasenhuttl was adamant Ings is staying put.
"The only thing I want to say for these rumours is that there is absolutely zero interest from Danny to go anywhere," said Hasenhuttl.
"He is 100 per cent happy here. For us it is not discussable. He loves what we do here and he loves to play for us."
ARSENAL BOSS ARTETA HAPPY TO SEE BALE BACK IN PREMIER LEAGUE
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta says it’s ‘really positive’ to see Gareth Bale back in the Premier League, as he closes in on a return to Spurs.
Bale’s move is expected to be announced today, with the Welshman already at Tottenham’s training ground.
Arteta was asked to comment on the move during his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s game against West Ham tomorrow.
“I think Gareth has been one of the most significant names that left the Premier League years ago to go to Spain, so I think it's really positive to bring really important players back to the league and it will be a challenge because we know at his best what he can do,” said Arteta.
"I think the competition from every club, the way they are all recruiting and improving their squad, is making this league harder and harder."
SPURS LEGEND GIVES ALLI ADVICE
Tottenham legend Teddy Sheringham has given midfielder Dele Alli some advice, as the 24-year-old struggles with his form in recent months.
The midfielder was left out of the Spurs squad for the trip to Bulgaria to face Lokomotiv Plovdiv.
Sheringham, speaking to Football London, says Alli needs to regain his focus:
“Things happen in football. You get talked about in certain ways and sometimes you believe the hype,“ said Sheringham.
"He was an unbelievable prospect. Has he realised those optimistic feelings? Has he got the best out of his ability? I don’t think he has yet because he is probably believing the hype around him.
“He needs to get back to getting his nut down, do his best for the team and be the player that he was three years ago. Then you might have the player back again.
“I don’t think it is anyone else. I don’t think he carried that many injuries, it is not like he has had big injury after big injury which sets a player back.
“It is probably all up there (in his head) and he needs to have good professionals around him which get him playing the game how it should be played.
“Footballers have ups and downs in their careers, especially as young lads. He has come on the scene and he was fantastic.
“Optimism, brilliance, scoring goals and just being a very good player around the place. He has had his downside.
“That downside has probably 18 months, touching two years for him to have that spurt back. That is a long time.”
MOURINHO A FAN OF INGS
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho is reportedly a huge admirer of Southampton striker Danny Ings, but the striker would need some convincing to leave The Saints, according to Football London.
Mourinho would like the club to sign a back-up striker for Harry Kane before the end of the transfer window.
Ings has been one of several names mentioned, along with Torino’s Andrea Belotti and Crystal Palace’s Alexander Sorloth.
Football London’s Alasdair Gold states that it would take a lot of convincing for Ings to leave his current club:
Danny Ings is someone that Spurs really like. They’ve looked at him before, obviously 22 goals last season, he had a cracking Premier League season. 28 years old, I think the problem with him [is] he doesn’t really fit Tottenham’s transfer profile.
[He’s had] massive injury issues, he’s had some bad cruciate ligament ones before, but obviously came back and had a great season.
He’s one that [Jose] Mourinho and Spurs both really like but I think it’s two-fold on that one. I think the price Southampton could ask for would be massive, that English premium, that Premier League premium you get on players; and also, I think Ings would take a fair bit of convincing as well.
He’s the main man at Southampton, he’s going to play week-in, week-out – and at Spurs, it’s very different. Unless Mourinho says to him I can play two up front as a more regular thing, I think that would be such a tough deal to do.
But he certainly is a player that Spurs have really looked at this window and would love to sign.
BALE ON OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD SAYS LAMPARD
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard has commented on the impending arrival of Gareth Bale to the Premier League: “He is one of the best players in the world, in my opinion, over the last four or five seasons.”
Bale is on the verge of completing his return to north London after seven years at Real Madrid, and Lampard was asked for his opinion on the deal during his press conference:
Gareth Bale is an incredible player, he is an incredible individual talent that we remember very well from his Premier League days at Tottenham.
We have seen from afar the incredible success that he has had at Real Madrid and if he does come to Tottenham which I keep seeing will virtually happen soon then he is going to be a big addition to their squad, of course.
They have got very good individuals at Tottenham. They will beat teams and be expected to challenge in and around the Champions League places and above.
They have fantastic individuals and if they get Gareth Bale, they will have another one for sure. He is one of the best players in the world, in my opinion, over the last four or five seasons.
SPURS FIND OUT POTENTIAL EUROPA LEAGUE OPPONENTS
Tottenham found out today who their opponents will be in the next round of the Europa League qualifiers.
Spurs entered at the second qualifying stage, and emerged victorious against Bulgaria’s Lokomotiv Plovdiv, winning 2-1.
The draw was made earlier this afternoon, and Tottenham will face either Rostov of Russia or Israel’s Maccabi Haifa at home in the one-off tie.
The winner will gain entry into the Europa League group stage.
SPURS HAVE OPTION TO EXTEND BALE LOAN
Tottenham have the option to extend Gareth Bale’s loan for a second season, should he prove to be a success this season, according to Football London.
Bale is on the verge of re-joining the club he left for Spain seven years ago on a season long-loan.
Football London’s Alasdair Gold states that there is the option to extend the loan into a second season should all parties agree.
This would run into the final year of Bale’s contract with Real Madrid, which expires at the end of the 2021-22 season.
BALE ARRIVES AT SPURS TRAINING GROUND
Gareth Bale has arrived at Spurs’ Enfield training ground ahead of completing his return to the club he left seven years ago.
Bale has agreed to join Tottenham on a season-long loan from Real Madrid.
He completed his medical in Madrid yesterday, along with fellow new signing Sergio Reguilon.
It’s expected that Bale will be announced as a Tottenham player today.
MOURINHO COMPLAINS OF HAVING TOO MANY PLAYERS
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has complained about having too many players in his squad, with the impending arrivals of Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon.
The pair are due to sign for Spurs today from Real Madrid after having completed medicals in Madrid yesterday.
Speaking at his press conference before their Sunday clash against Southampton, Mourinho stated that he’s unhappy with the large number of players in his squad.
“You ask me about Dele [Alli], you could ask me about the other seven players we left behind,” said Mourinho. "To be honest I don't like the number of players I have in my squad, it is very, very difficult to manage in every aspect of my job.
"Very difficult to manage this situation, too many players. It was Dele plus other seven. Can they be back to the squad? Of course they can.
"I think it is another brilliant decision to only have seven players on the bench, the only country with that, I would like to understand why," Mourinho added.
"It is a big limitation for coaches because we like to have more options on the bench. I also think it could give us more chance to rest more players to manage the situation which is difficult for the majority of the clubs in England.
"When you have the decision of us playing Sunday 12pm then Tuesday, Thursday and do this for two weeks then anything is possible."
BALE TO LAND AT SPURS TRAINING GROUND THIS AFTERNOON
Gareth Bale will land at Spurs’ Enfield training ground this afternoon, according to Talksport.
The 31-year-old left Madrid this morning, and is due to sign his season-long loan deal with Tottenham today.
Bale played for Real Madrid for seven years, and won four Champions League titles during his time.
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