Jose Mourinho has refused to comment on Tottenham's bid to sign Gareth Bale, but admitted he previously tried to sign the forward when he managed Real Madrid.
football.london understands that Tottenham are looking to finalise a loan move for Bale, with reports in Spain suggesting the forward left Real's training ground early on Wednesday morning.
Madrid are believed to prefer a permanent move for the 31-year-old attacker, who left Tottenham for Spain seven years ago, and both sides are still locked in negotiations.
Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett told BBC Wales on Tuesday: "Gareth still loves Spurs. We are talking [Spurs, Real and Bale's camp]. It's where he wants to be."
He then told AFP on Wednesday morning: "It's close but not done. It's a complicated deal."
It is thought all parties are hopeful that a deal can be tied up for the move, with Tottenham looking for a loan deal while picking up a chunk of his huge wages, reported to be around £600,000-a-week before tax.
Speaking ahead of Spurs' Europa League qualifier against Lokomotiv Plovdiv on Thursday, Mourinho was asked for an update on the prospective deal.
"Gareth Bale is a Real Madrid player and I don't talk about players from other clubs," Mourinho told reporters.
"It's not my job to have contact with agents and I don't want to comment.
"I tried to sign him during my time at Real Madrid and the president followed my instinct and knowledge and the season I left, he brought Gareth to the club. That's no secret and Gareth knows that."
On the possibility of further arrivals, Mourinho added: "A squad is a puzzle and when a new signing completes the puzzle it's great for the team.
"Three more weeks, the market is open both ways. I think in football you have to be always waiting for something to happen.
"Let's see what happens to us. I never liked to start the competition with an open transfer window."
