Reports: Real Madrid offer Gareth Bale in €200 million deal for EPL superstar
What's the story?
Real Madrid's pursuit of Harry Kane has intensified, with the La Liga giants willing to offer upto €200 million for the Tottenham Hotspur star, according to a report in British news outlet, The Daily Mail. Florentino Perez was originally put off by Spurs asking for a fee in excess of €150 million, but will now offer Gareth Bale a return to his former club, in a player+cash deal that would be totally valued at a staggering €200 million. Tottenham are reportedly considering Real Madrid's offer, but only after this season, with Mauricio Pochettino having sights on the Premier League title.
Also Read: 5 reasons this could be Gareth Bale's last season at Real Madrid
In case you didn't know...
Having been with Tottenham's academy since 2004, Harry Kane's path to the first team was less than obvious, as he spent three seasons on loan at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City. The Englishman came to the limelight with a stunning breakout season for Spurs in 2014/15, scoring 31 goals in all competitions. Having originally been cast as a one-season wonder, Kane has gone from strength to strength, scoring 28 goals the following season and then 35 goals last season as well, with the Englishman now considered one of the best strikers in the Premier League.
The heart of the matter
Real Madrid were originally willing to offer €125 million for Kane's services, but as Eduarda Inda noted in Spanish TV program, El Chiringuito, "Real Madrid are asking for Harry Kane for next season, but you know the price and they are 200 million euros", Tottenham's valuation of their striker was much higher.
Florentino Perez has grown weary of Gareth Bale's continuing struggles, and is willing to let his record buy move back to his former club while being valued for the same fee, which would require Madrid to stump up an additional €100 million in cash, a large portion of which was generated in the sales of Alvaro Morata and Danilo this summer.
Also Read: Is Harry Kane a better striker than Luis Suarez and Robert Lewandowski?
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Author's Take:
Goalscorers are a rare breed these days, and with Karim Benzema beginning to decline, Real Madrid have to find a long-term solution to the central striking position. Los Blancos have already tied up a majority of their side for the next 4-5 years, and the addition of Kane would only guarantee that they remain in the top echelons of football to come.