It’s been a topsy-turvy season for Welsh superstar Gareth Bale, who is currently on-loan at Spurs from Spanish giants Real Madrid where he has not featured in head coach Zinedine Zidane’s plans for a few years now.
After making his name in North London a decade ago, it seemed like the perfect time for Bale to return to Tottenham as the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship was postponed until this summer and with the forward turning 31, it was crucial for him that regular first team football was on the cards.
Despite his huge reputation and status at Spurs, minutes have been difficult to come by due to various minor injuries, fitness concerns and inconsistent form.
Us fans seemed to be split down the middle as to whether or not his loan deal should be extended for another season, but it seems as if Bale himself has made the decision and will be returning to the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season after the Euros.
🗣"The original plan was to do a season at Spurs and after the Euros I still have a year left at Madrid, so my plan is to go back."
Gareth Bale confirms that he plans to end his Tottenham stay at the end of the season and return to Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/2ZhOPawKzt
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 23, 2021
After playing just 25 times in all competitions for Spurs and netting ten goals and assisting just three times, it’s fair to say that while the return has been good, it’s definitely not been worth the £250,000 a week that we are paying him – especially if we are only going to get one season out of him.
More performances like the ones against Burnley and Crystal Palace around the start of the month may sway Chairman Daniel Levy into negotiating with Bale about a possible extension to the loan that will run until his contract expires with Madrid, but the chances of that happening are unlikely given the summer clear-out many are expecting.
Who will replace Bale at Spurs?
Forwards Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela, Steven Bergwijn and even Dele Alli are all contenders to take Bale’s role at Spurs (or at least the role we all assumed he would have as first-team regular), but it is expected that at least two of them will leave in the Summer too.
Lucas’ form in the last couple of months has been very encouraging for Spurs fans, who feel like he is turning a new leaf and beginning to produce performances of a similar quality as the one from the infamous night in Amsterdam where he scored the game-winning hat-trick to send the club to our first ever Champions League Final.
A new signing in that role is less likely, as youngsters Jack Clarke and Ryan Sessegnon will hope to remain in North London and compete for starting spots in the team as opposed to going out on loan again.
Thank you for Ryan, can we keep him for another season? This guy is world class
— ✶✶ ranik ✶✶ (@ranikOneAndOnly) March 15, 2021
Dane Scarlett may also find himself in contention, particularly if we see him any more this season being deployed out wide when he gets his chances – a position which isn’t his natural one, but may be one which can accommodate him in the team.
Gareth Bale and Dane Scarlett. Then and now. 😎 pic.twitter.com/RDS9q2mcCh
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) March 16, 2021
A new signing in that area of the pitch for Spurs may not be a necessity in the summer, but if funds are raised it could be plausible and Juventus star Paulo Dybala could once again be at the top of the shopping list at the end of the season as Calcio Mercato have reported in recent days.
Lucas Vasquez of Real Madrid and Marcel Sabitzer of RB Leipzig have also been linked to join Jose Mourinho’s team, but neither players really suit the inside forward role if that’s the route that Spurs operate next year.