Transfer Centre

Real Madrid 'fear Gareth Bale will be sent back from Tottenham Hotspur loan'

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 28 December 2020

Real Madrid are reportedly concerned that Gareth Bale's loan deal at Tottenham Hotspur may be cut short, which could potentially thwart their summer transfer plans.

Since joining the North London club in September, Bale has featured in only 11 out of a possible 23 matches in all competitions this campaign and has failed to stake a first-team place in Jose Mourinho's side.

The Daily Mail reports that Real Madrid had hoped that the 31-year-old could revive his career at Spurs and that his loan deal would turn into a permanent sale, trimming his current £650,000-a-week earnings off their wage bill.

Head coach Zinedine Zidane, who did not make a single signing last summer, is looking to splash the cash once the 2020-21 season is over, with Los Blancos reportedly interested in forwards Erling Braut Haaland and Kylian Mbappe.

Real Madrid would struggle to finance a big-money transfer if the Welsh winger were to return to the club before the end of this season or if Tottenham decide against making the deal permanent next summer.

Bale, whose contract at Real Madrid expires in June 2022, is currently nursing a calf problem that saw him withdrawn at half time in Tottenham's League Cup quarter-final victory at Stoke City, with the winger opening the scoring before being substituted.