Gareth Bale may have handed Real Madrid a huge boost in their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe after finally hitting some form - meaning Tottenham could now swoop for a permanent move.
Bale struck twice as Spurs beat Burnley 4-0 over the weekend, taking his tally to four goals in as many games.
The Wales forward has struggled to get going since returning to north London on a season-long loan, having slipped down the pecking order at Real.
But Bale now appears to be getting back to the sort of player that made him a vital player in the four Champions League successes in Madrid.
That surge in form could now turn out to be a boost for his parent club - because now they can try to recoup a fee for him to fund a move for PSG superstar Mbappe.
That is according to the The Express, who claim that Bernbaeu chiefs are preparing a £135m bid for the Frenchman.
Indeed, there is a hope that Spurs move ahead with plans to lure Bale back on a full-time basis, with the Welshman facing an uncertain future in Spain.
Bale will still have one year left on his contract at the end of the season, but Real are keen to get him off their books to free up an eye-watering £600,000-a-week of wages.
It is understood that offloading the 31-year-old would then allow them get into a financial position to launch a serious approach for Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick at Barcelona in the Champions League knockout rounds recently.
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Jose Mourinho appeared to be plead with Wales to go easy on Gareth Bale ahead of their opening World Cup qualifiers this month.
Bale will no doubt be a key man for his national side when they take on Belgium and Czech Republic competitively, with a friendly against Mexico sandwiched in the middle.
Mourinho said last week: “Our players are going to be on a 10-match run in March, which is crazy. Seven for the club plus three for national teams.
“Gareth is a player we need to take care of. He is playing all the minutes that he can and that we feel are good for his evolution.
“I want to play him on Thursday and Sunday, and next week against Dinamo - but I don't think I can.”
