Gareth Bale move to Tottenham to be completed this week, agent says

Jonathan Barnett hopes to conclude negotiations for the Wales star's return to the Premier League

Gareth Bale shares a joke with Jonny Williams during training with Wales. Reuters

Wales' Gareth Bale during the training session at the Vale Resort, Hensol. PA

Gareth Bale during training with Wales. Reuters

Wales' Gareth Bale (right) during the training session at the Vale Resort. PA

Real Madrid's Gareth Bale during training with Wales. Reuters

Wales' Gareth Bale during training. Action Images

Wales' Gareth Bale during training. Action Images

Wales' Chris Gunter, Gareth Bale and Jonny Williams. PA

The agent of Gareth Bale says he hopes the player's move back to Tottenham Hotspur can be completed by the end of this week.

Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing and have been described by Jonathan Barnett as "complicated", not least by Bale's astronomical wages worth a reported £600,000 per week.

Barnett acknowledges that while the finer details of a proposed move are still to be finalised, he expects the Wales forward to seal a return to the club he left for a world-record £85 million (Dh402m) in 2013.

"We're getting there," Barnett told AFP. "I think it will be completed this week."

Madrid have been desperate to offload the 31-year-old Bale for more than a year and scuppered a proposed move to China last summer by insisting on a transfer fee at the 11th hour.

But Tottenham are expected initially to take Bale on loan as part of a package that includes them paying around half of his wages, as well as some additional payments, depending on the Welshman's performances.

Bale has made plain his desire to leave the Bernabeu and return to the club where he scored 55 goals in 203 games after being told by the Spanish champions he is persona not grata.

The former Southampton player's relationship with manager Zinedine Zidane and Madrid fans - never great even in the best of times - is currently at rock bottom and unlikely to ever be salvaged.

While Bale can justly say he has helped Madrid burgeon a trophy cabinet with four Champions League, two La Liga, one Copa del Rey and three Club World Cup titles, his detractors can just as easily point to an injury record that would make most wince.

In his seven years in the Spanish capital, Bale has played in just 46 per cent of Madrid's games, although 105 goals in 251 goals is the type of return that has encouraged Spurs that he is worth the gamble.

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Gareth Bale's best goals for Real Madrid

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Assuming the deal goes ahead, Bale will join Jose Mourinho at Spurs, who reiterated on Wednesday that he tried to sign the forward while he was in charge of Real Madrid.

"I tried to sign him during my time at Real Madrid and the president followed my instinct and knowledge and the season I left, he brought Gareth to the club," Mourinho said. "That's no secret and Gareth knows that."

Tottenham are also close to completing the signing of Real Madrid left-back Sergio Reguilon for around €30 million (Dh130m).

Reguilon enjoyed an excellent 2018/19 season for Madrid but Zidane sent the 23-year-old on loan last year to Sevilla, where he helped them finish fourth in La Liga and win the Europa League.

Spurs are hoping to have the Spain international registered in time for Sunday's Premier League clash against Southampton.

The North London club lost their opening fixture 1-0 to Everton at home last week.

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