Don't think so. All stadium tours for tomorrow at WHL have been cancelled though, causing some social media speculation about a big signing being unveiled. Complete crap, of course.
If this story is correct, one can now understand why Real has been so persistent in its tapping-up of Bale.
Excellent. They won't be nearly as attractive an option without Ronny and having spent an entire season without their one man team its likely they won't have won anything either. Also, if we know that have that sort of money in their back pocket we will be demanding absolutely crazy money should they come back for bale next summer
For the first time this window I am actually starting to believe we are going to lose Bale this window. If reports are true £86 million plus Di Maria I wouldn't criticise Levy for accepting - as long as this is reinvested. Granted Bale is world class but if he wants out let's get him out now so we can spend that money before 31st August. Just think what we could do with Di Maria and £86 million - honestly think we could build a title challenging team out of this. I would even be tempted to hijack the goons bid for goofy - twat of a guy but great player. Could have the following from selling Bale: Soldado - £26 million. Suarez - £50 million. Di Maria - included. ?????? - £10 million. One hell of a squad!
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Not Suarez. Please not Suarez. All our players would want out if we sold Bale. Its not just the hit of losing a great player we need to consider.
Hm... --------------Lloris------------------- Walker---Kaboul----Vertonghen----Rose Lennon----Sandro----Paulinho----Di Maria --------------Suarez------------------ -------------Soldado----------------- Subs: Friedel, Dawson, Benny, Chadli, Dembele, Defoe Looks good, I must say. We'd have to sell Ade, probably, as I can't see him staying a the 4th striker.
Doesn't have to be Suarez. I see your point, before this window I honestly thought we would keep Bale for one more season and that he would then be off. Don't you think we could build a title challenging squad with that deal? I honestly believe we could compete if we kept Bale and invested £50 million but not sure if Levy would commit to this?
Agree that we should let Bale goes if that's what he wants (and the price is right), but NOOOOOO Suarez please!
Thanks HIAG we could build a good squad out of the money but I also understand concerns that if he did go we will be known as the Real Madrid feeder club. We could also test them with this special relationship and get dome guaranteed decent loans in like Jese.
I have always said 'Let Bale go for £80m+' but as the summer has unfolded, as I've spoken to people here I realise how important his reputation is to our club. One of this years FIFA 14 promos is going to be involving Tottenham instead of the normal Madrid barca united bayern. The amount of publicity, shirt sales, ticket sales and sponsorship that comes with keeping Bale is worth way way WAY more than £85m and even if we signed Suarez Di Maria Coentrao Mata - none of the money, fame, reputation they bring in would be even half as much Bale brings us. I believe there are only 4 truly PRICELESS players in the world - Messi, Ronaldo, Bale, Dawson () - and I think he will stay this season at least.
Hugo don't usually comment on this stuff, but haven't you seen the reports. Bale and AVB have confirmed there are contract talks going on at the moment. Adding to the fact the club has told RM to get lost. I'm tired of this speculation,I'm positive that come 1st September Bale will still be a Spurs player.
Agreed TJ, thats always the line I've taken as well. In theory everyone has their price, but in practice players like Bale, Ronaldo, Messi and Rooney (until recently at any rate) are so much more valuable TO THE CLUB as individuals above and beyond their value in money. A player of this type has far more resting on their sale than just a transfer fee - perceptions of the club can change if they are sold, deals can be won or lost on whether the player wears the shirt or not etc. Madrid probably won't sell Ronaldo unless they get Bale for this reason - they can't be seen to lose face and sell Ronaldo unless they have already poached Bale from a 'lesser club' (I only say this because this is probably how the board at Real view us in all honesty, look at how they seem to treat us...) therefore proving to the world that they can take what they want, when they want it. Keeping Bale against this sort of attention is one of the steps on the road of not only building a team capable of fighting for the big trophies, but also a step along the road towards changing the perception of the club so members of the press, other teams, players and fans take the club more seriously when we say 'player X is not for sale', 'we want to win trophy Y'.
I'm not sure tbh. Title wining teams tend to have a very special player at their disposal: RVP, Aguero/Silva/Yaya, Berbatov, Drogba, Cech, Ronaldo, Henry etc. We'd need a new one. I guess Suarez is one, but i just hate the guy Teams would know we had a lot of money and we'd have to overpay for most recruits. We would find it hard to recruit the best players, we are not in the CL and there would be no "Bale factor" for the recruits to consider when making a decision. I really, truly believe we have to hold on to him this summer. It sends a message that we are not pushovers (Real poached Modric last year, we don't want them back every year) and it gives us a chance to get into the CL. If we get into the CL then Bale _might_ stay another year. If not we have that CL carrot to lure in other top players. If we don't make the CL, we could be ****ed.
Best job in the world is sports 'journalist'. Make up whatever you like, reprint it if you're right and not mention it again if (as normal) you are wrong. Or just writing something which is based on a story which in itself isn't true! One day Bale will leave, and when it happens I doubt there will be many reports that get the exact terms of the transfer right, and even those that might will probably just have guessed! These guys (and punters) make a living making you believe they know something you don't. How many really do?
