Soccer

Spurs adamant that there will be no Bale out

Potential suitors for Welsh international are likely to be turned away

Tottenham’s Gareth Bale. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Wire.
Tue May 21 2013 - 16:09

Tim Sherwood is "one million per cent" sure that Gareth Bale will stay at Tottenham this summer.

Speculation is mounting that Europe’s elite are preparing to swoop for the 23-year-old after Spurs just fell short of Champions League qualification.

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas says he has been told by the club that Bale will stay even though the team will be playing in the Europa League next term, although that might not stop the likes of Real Madrid bidding for the player in the close season.

Reports today suggest the Wales international is poised to sign a new contract worth up to £150,000 a week and head of football development Sherwood is certain he will stay at White Hart Lane.

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“He’s fantastically happy at Tottenham,” Sherwood said. “I see him around the training ground every day, he’s got a good working relationship with the manager and he loves his team-mates. They show him the respect that he deserves and he gives it back to them.

“I don’t see him banging the door down trying to get a move. I believe one million per cent he will stay at Tottenham.”

The new deal for Bale, whose existing contract does not expire until 2016, would reportedly include a release clause for bids over £50million at the end of the next season.

“It’s crucial for all teams when you’re at the level of the league that we are, pushing for Champions League football, that players like Gareth Bale stay at your club,” Sherwood added.

“There will be a lot of clubs wanting to take Gareth but he’s 23-years-old and fortunately for Gareth and Tottenham, he’s got good advisors.

“They know that it’s not a flash in the pan, that he’s got built in quality. Next year he will be exactly the same. There’s time for him to go overseas or to another Premier League club but I think he needs to stay here.

“He’s developing fantastically well, he just needs to put a level of consistency in his performance over a few seasons. He’s already shown he can do it week-to-week, he needs to kick on next year and produce the same quality that he has this year.

“The opportunities will arise for him in the future if he wants to go over there.”