Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

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

Emmet Gates
Friday 18 September 2020 13:46 BST
Comments
Gareth Bale arrives at Tottenham's training ground
Gareth Bale arrives at Tottenham's training ground (Action Images via Reuters)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

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:

REDKNAPP URGES SPURS TO RE-SIGN MODRIC

Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp urges his old side to re-sign Luka Modric from Real Madrid, much like they done with Gareth Bale.

Bale is due to fly to London today to seal his return to north London after seven years in Spain.

Redknapp, speaking to Stats Perform News, states that Spurs should go back to the Spanish side and also ask about the possibility of taking the Croatian back to White Hart Lane.

“I'd go and see if I could get Luka Modric back. Take the pair of them, Bale and Modric,” he said. "That would be a great coup. Luka is still a fantastic player. That would be amazing. 

“I still feel they need somebody there; they've got the forward players, but they need somebody to supply the bullets. That's where someone like Luka Modric can play killer passes, into great movement up front. They lack a player like that.”

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 12:00

BALE AN IMMENSE TALENT SAYS SHERINGHAM

Gareth Bale is an ‘immense talent’ and his return to Spurs will only help Harry Kane, says club legend Teddy Sheringham.

The Welsh star is due to sign for the club today on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, and Sheringham believes everyone will benefit from the move.

"Without a doubt. Good players want to play with good players, top players want to play with top players,” Sheringham told football.london.

“When [Jurgen] Klinsmann came to Tottenham, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was just ‘I’m playing football with Jurgen Klinsmann every day. He is fantastic, this man’. 

“Bale will do things in training which Kane will then say ‘I can’t wait to play on a Saturday with him’.  

“This is what football is all about at the top level. It’s not all about money, you want to be playing with top players and exciting people who are watching you play football. Simple as that. 

"He [Bale] is a player of immense talent, unbelievable talent. If you get the chance to sign him then you have got to. 

"Yeah, his best days might be behind him, and injury wise you might worry a little bit. But to have him in your team for 25 out of 45 games in a season, you would be delighted to see the impact he would have. 

"I don’t think you could pick a player that would come to play at Tottenham at the moment who would have more impact than someone like Gareth Bale at the moment. So I think it would be an absolutely fantastic signing." 

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 11:22

SPURS WOULD LISTEN TO SERIOUS ALLI OFFERS

Tottenham would reportedly contemplate serious offers for midfielder Dele Alli, according to The Evening Standard.

Speculation has mounted that the 24-year-old may have to move on in light of the club signing Gareth Bale on loan from Real Madrid.

Alli’s form has slipped in the last several years, and this has led to speculation that whilst the club don’t expect him to leave in this transfer window, they would listen to serious offers should they be presented.

Alli was dropped from the squad for the Europa League qualifier against Bulgarian side Lokomotiv Plovdiv yesterday.

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 11:11

LINEKER HAILS SIGNINGS

Former Tottenham striker Gary Lineker has hailed the signings of Gareth Bale and Thiago Alcantara.

Bale is set to return to the Premier League after seven years in Spain, and will arrive on a season-long loan deal, whilst Thiago Alcantara will join Liverpool from Bayern Munich.

Lineker took to Twitter to post his thoughts on the two impending arrivals.

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 10:29

BELOTTI NOT A TARGET FOR SPURS

Torino striker Andrea Belotti will not arrive in north London, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Rumours had circulated in recent days around a potential move for the 26-year-old, as Jose Mourinho demands a back-up striker for Harry Kane.

On his latest podcast, Here We Go, Romano gave the latest on the Belotti situation:

What’s happening is that for Belotti, an agent was working [on] the situation with Torino, made an enquiry with Torino, told [them] that Tottenham were ready to make a bid for a loan with buy option – so no obligation to buy, just a buy option – Torino president Urbano Cairo immediately said he won’t sell Belotti this summer and he won’t [sell] just for a loan.

He just would sell Belotti if you come with an important bid for a permanent deal, but it’s impossible that Tottenham, this summer, arrives [with] €60m to sign Belotti.

So, Belotti, in this moment, is absolutely not a Tottenham target.

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 10:22

BUYBACK CLAUSE IN REGUILON DEAL

Real Madrid have the option to call back Sergio Reguilon from Tottenham after having inserted a buyback clause in the deal, states Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

The Spanish outfit are selling Reguilon for €30m, but have the option to sign him back for the same amount.

They performed a similar tactic with Alvaro Morata, who was sold to Juventus in the summer of 2014 for €20m, but was brought back to Madrid two years later for €30m.

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 10:02

BALE AND REGUILON FLYING TO LONDON

Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon are on their way to London to complete their moves to Tottenham, according to Italian journalists Fabrizio Romano.

Bale is returning to north London on a loan deal, whilst Reguilon is arriving in a £27m transfer.

Romano states that the duo’s medicals were completed in Madrid.

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 09:58

MOURINHO REFUSES TO COMMENT ON BALE MOVE

Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has failed to comment on the pending arrival of the Welsh star from Real Madrid.

Speaking after his side’s 2-1 win against Lokomotiv Plovdiv in Bulgaria, Mourinho refused to be drawn in on commenting on the deal.

“I cannot comment, I don’t comment on something that I don’t know [about],” he said. 

“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.” 

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 09:54

BALE A MAGNIFICENT FOOTBALLER SAYS POCHETTINO

Former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino has given his verdict on his old side’s double swoop for Gareth Bale and Sergio Reguilon.

The pair are due to land in London today to sign for Tottenham, and Pochettino was asked for his opinion on the signings.

Pochettino told El Partidazo de Cope: "Bale is a magnificent footballer at an age that still has strength as well as experience and maturity.   

"He has been decisive in Madrid, he has won four European Cups, he has scored in important games… he has always been very affectionate with me."

Asked for his opinion on Reguilon, he said:

"It seems to me that he has a lot of spirit. He has great potential and will continue to grow.’ 

Emmet Gates18 September 2020 09:50

Hello and welcome along to a huge 24 hours or so in this summer transfer window. Could Gareth Bale be a Spurs player by the end of the day?

Lawrence Ostlere18 September 2020 09:18

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in