BALE HOLDS SPURS TALKS -
REPORT
Tottenham have reportedly jumped to the front of the queue to sign
Southampton whizzkid Gareth Bale.
Sir Alex Ferguson was apparently confident the 17-year-old would
sign for Manchester United in an £8million deal that would see the
Wales international see out the rest of the season on loan at St
Mary's.
Yet Saints turned down the offer, and several national newspapers
claim Spurs have now been successful with a bid of £10million, with
The Mirror going as far as saying Bale travelled to White Hart Lane
on Monday for talks with Martin Jol.
Southampton boss George Burley has spent much of the last three
weeks fending off questions over Bale's future, just as he had to
last year with Theo Walcott.
And in the wake of Saints' 2-0 defeat of QPR on Saturday - in which
Bale excelled - he said: "I've told Gareth I feel he needs to be
here this season and next season, that would be ideal for his
development.
"I haven't changed my opinion. You can't beat playing first-team
football for the development of a young kid. At a big club it's
harder to get into the team, which is understandable. It's best for
the player to be in this league, at a good club, where he can find
his feet."
Bale's current contract runs out in 18 months and talks over a
one-year extension - the maximum allowed for a player of his age -
have been shelved until the summer.
But before Spurs' latest reported bid, Burley was confident he
could ride out the rest of the transfer window without losing the
Wales international.
The Scot said: "Gareth doesn't want to go anywhere, certainly until
the summer.
"We know he's going to go at some point, but our aim is to keep him
as long as possible. No matter what he will be here until the end
of the season.
