Tottenham want to sign Gareth Bale for a third time as they seek to strengthen their squad to convince manager Antonio Conte to stay in north London.
Spurs are involved in a tight contest for fourth spot in the Premier League and that all-important Champions League place. Securing top-level European football will go a long way in their quest to keep the Italian boss in situ. Reports suggest the former Juventus chief want assurances over the summer transfer window.
National reports state that Bale could return again to Spurs when his contract expires with Real Madrid at the end of the season, with five other names on their wishlist. Fellow former Tottenham player Christian Eriksen, currently with Brentford, has been tipped for a return to north London, Torino defensive pair Wilfried Singo and Gleison Bremer are also said to be on their radar, while Hamburg winger Filip Kostic is another target, and an option described as 'fanciful' is Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez.
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Bale's future is intertwined with Wales' World Cup fate, with a play-off match against Scotland or Ukraine scheduled for June. Should Rob Page's men qualify for the tournament in Qatar, Bale will need a club to play for to maintain fitness and match sharpness.
Several suitors have already been mentioned - including MLS side DC United in recent days - while a sensational move to Barcelona or Atletico Madrid has also been mooted. Bale's treatment at the hands of the Spanish press reached its nadir earlier this year when he was labelled a parasite by a columnist. He hit back with a stinging riposte on social media, condemning the criticism.
Hometown club Cardiff City have also been named as a possible destination, with the Bluebirds and Spurs being named favourites for Bale's signature by bookmakers.
The Wales skipper has previously spoken about wanting to play Stateside and might view this as the ideal next step to tick that off his bucket list. On the International Champions Cup podcast in 2020, he said of playing in MLS: “It is definitely something that would interest me. Also, I love going to LA on vacation. I play a lot of golf when I go there."
His ex-Wales teammate Jack Collison, who manages in Atlanta, has urged him to do so, saying it would be a "match made in heaven".
