Gareth Bale could complete his protracted world-record move to Real Madrid this week after Tottenham Hotspur apparently accepted a part-exchange offer for the winger.
Los Blancos have been chasing the Welshman throughout the summer and finally seem to have broken Spurs' resolve with a bid of £93m plus left-back Fabio Coentrao, according to Sky Sport Italia journalist Gianluca di Marzio.
That figure would eclipse the £80m sum that Madrid paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, a deal which currently makes the Portuguese forward the most expensive player ever.
Bale was not in Spurs' squad for their Premier League victory over Crystal Palace due to a foot injury, and reports claim that he has played his last game for the Lillywhites as a switch to Real moves closer.
It is understood that Coentrao has been a target of Andre Villas-Boas for some time, and the Tottenham manager looks poised to recruit further by spending £30m of the cash gained from Bale's sale on Anzhi Makhachkala playmaker Willian.
Joe Fish
