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Mike McGrath's transfer notebook: Gareth Bale allowed to leave Real Madrid... but Spurs could be outpriced

Gareth Bale is currently out of favour with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid - Getty Images Europe
Gareth Bale is currently out of favour with Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid - Getty Images Europe

Real Madrid are ready to discuss a deal for Gareth Bale’s return to Tottenham but have doubts over structuring a deal.

The Spanish club blocked Bale’s move to China in the summer as they wanted a fee for the 30-year-old and will demand market value for him again.

Bale is out of favour under Zinedine Zidane and has been sidelined through injury this month, with Spurs looking to bolster their attacking options following Harry Kane’s ruptured groin.

Real are prepared to thrash out a deal but completing a return to Spurs is considered a long shot, according to Spanish sources.

Jose Mourinho may need a striker but Spurs would prefer a loan rather than permanent deal, which is why interest cooled in AC Milan’s Krzysztof Piątek. Bale’s wages at the Bernabéu are also £600,000 per week.

With two full seasons on his Madrid contract, it would still take a huge package for Bale to return, almost seven years since heading to Real in his £85.3million move.

Jiangsu Suning came close in the summer when they targeted the Wales international in a deal that would have seen him land £1m-a-week in salary.

AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek - Credit: REX
Jose Mourinho's interest in AC Milan striker Krzysztof Piatek has cooled since Spurs would prefer a loan deal Credit: REX

That deal was blocked by Real on the grounds they felt Bale was too valuable to let go cheaply.

Bale’s agent confirmed that a loan to the Premier League will not be possible.

"Why would one of the best players on Earth go on loan? That's ridiculous," he told the BBC.

"At the moment, he is going to be playing football for Real Madrid and he has got two-and-a-half years left on his contract.

"Things can change but loans are ridiculous and there are not many clubs that can afford him anyway."

Bale appeared out of favour when Zidane returned to the club 10 months ago to replace Santiago Solari and looked set to end his stay in La Liga when interest from China surfaced in July.

The collapse of the Jiangsu Suning move was the source of frustration after a deal was in place but the Wales international played a full part in pre-season and started the first three games of the season.

He played the majority of Real’s games until a calf  injury in October saw him miss a month of action. Since then he has started three La Liga matches, the last of which was on January 4 in the victory over Getafe.

Mourinho did not work with Bale when he was at Real Madrid, departing in the summer when the forward arrived from Spurs. But he was at the club when Bale was being courted by Real to become a world record transfer at the time.

Palace reinforce their midfield

Crystal Palace have signed Scotland under-19 midfielder Scott Banks from Dundee United.

The 18-year-old has agreed a three-year deal to move to Selhurst Park, subject to international clearance.

“There’s no bigger stage I’d want to play on,” he said. “It’s a big step up coming from Scotland. When you hear about that interest, you want to pursue that, and push yourself to the highest level. So it was a no-brainer that this was the place for me.”

Stockport starlet arousing interest

Stockport County youngster Festus Arthur has been watched by Leicester, Ipswich and Hull in the National League.

The Germany-born centre-back, 18, has not missed a game since October after breaking into Jim Gannon’s team earlier in the campaign.

Arthur had a spell at Glossop North End on loan last season before returning to Edgeley Park to challenge for a first-team place.