Thursday, 22nd August, 2013
Gareth Bale's transfer to Real Madrid could be made official by the end of this week with Tottenham Hotspur technical director Franco Baldini in Spain for crunch talks.
Bale's potential move has been the worst kept secret this transfer window, even if Spurs were officially known to be in favour of keeping the Welshman.
However, a £93m deal that could also see Fabio Coentrao added on – totalling worth £108m – was arguably too good to turn down.
Spurs have already broken their transfer record several times this summer, and with the Bale cash boost can afford to let loose on more players.
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It is understood that Baldini flew to Madrid yesterday and that a deal is very close to completion.
It will signal the end of a transfer saga that began well before the season ended, and which will see Bale become the next world record signing.
Cristiano Ronaldo had broken that last record when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid and Bale's will eclipse that by some distance.
Spurs at least have the consolation of a hefty transfer kitty, which they have seemingly lined up to help bring Anzhi Makhachkala's Willian on board.
A medical for the winger is believed to have been complete with the £30m deal set to follow soon, while Roma's Erik Lamela is also on the cards for a similar amount.
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