Bale to Madrid: Advantage to Spurs' league rivals
Gareth Bale is currently the hottest property in the European football and Real Madrid are keen to land the left-footed winger, who is valued to be around £85 million in the summer.
The nine-time European champions’ sporting director Zinedine Zidane has made no secret desire to sign the Welshman while the Los Blancos president Florentino Perez confirmed the club can break the bank to land the Premier League Players’ Player and Young Player of the Year award winner.
Should Bale decide to make a switch to the Spanish capital club in the summer, it will be major blow for Andre Villas-Boas’ side. However, on the other hand, the Wales international’s move could be beneficial for the north London club’s league rivals.
The Premier League leaders Manchester United, their arch rivals Manchester City and Chelsea along with Liverpool are likely to benefit from the departure of the 24-year-old from White Hart Lane to Santiago Bernabeu in the summer.
Case 1
Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo play in the same position. The Portuguese international took on social networking sites to confirm the recent talks regarding his contract extension are false. This has linked the Madrid star with a return to Old Trafford in the summer. The 28-year-old has two years left on his contract and his failure to sign a new deal could then see Perez cash in on the player.
Case 2
However, should Ronaldo stay with his current employers, it could jeopardise Angel di Maria’s situation at the club. The Argentine has been linked with both United and City and Bale’s move could force him to leave Madrid in the summer, if the former United player continues with the Spanish giants.
The former Benfica man wants to continue with Madrid but admitted he’s uncertain over his future at the club. Perez could offload him in the summer, if Bale arrives and Ronaldo continues at the Bernabeu.
Case 3
Bale’s move to Madrid could see the Los Blancos decide in bringing in either Liverpool’s want-away striker Luis Suarez or the South American hotshot Edinson Cavani as a replacement for Gonzalo Higuain.
Should Madrid sign Suarez and Bale in the summer, Cavani could then turn his attention to England. The Uruguayan could then make a move to the Etihad or Stamford Bridge in the summer as both City and Chelsea are keen on signing Napoli striker in the summer.
Case 4
Should Madrid decide to bring Cavani along with Bale in the summer, Suarez will have limited options to make a move in the summer. The only other club who is strongly linked with the Reds’ striker is Bayern Munich. However, the Champions League winners are now keen on signing Robert Lewandowski in the summer.
This could force Suarez to continue with Liverpool, unless and until he decides to make a switch to Paris Saint-Germain or AS Monaco.