Manchester City readying £40m bid for Tottenham and Wales wideman Gareth Bale – report

UEFA Champions : Gareth Bale – Sergio Ramos, Tottenham Hotspur v Real Madrid

Related Links

Teams

Players

For all the latest reports and transfer rumours, visit our dedicated section here

Manchester City are reportedly preparing a massive £40 million bid for Tottenham winger Gareth Bale in order to test the resolve of the north London club – who would reportedly want £50m for the player should they decide to sell him.

It is thought that City manager Roberto Mancini sees Bale as a key signing that could potentially take the club to the next level as they look to build on finishing third in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup.

Mancini is also keen to strengthen the squad in general in preparation for their up-coming Champions League campaign, with the addition of Bale something that could see City as one of the dark-horses for the world’s top club competition.

The Sunday Express report that City’s owners will stump up £40m for the Welsh winger as they believe he could be the marquee signing they crave.

Should the club eventually sign the player for that amount, it would set a new record fee for the transfer of a British player between British clubs. The record currently stands at the £35m Liverpool paid for Andy Carroll from Newcastle in January this year – but Spurs may well demand even more than the £40m being mentioned.

It is also being reported that City are looking at Everton’s Leighton Baines as a possible signing for left-back after a season of uncertainty in that position.

City signed Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio for a fee around £17 last summer, but the Serbian has never really impressed at Eastlands and Pablo Zabaleta, a player more comfortable on the right, has often filled in on the left side.

The reported fee involved is £20m with Wayne Bridge added into the deal after the former Chelsea player spent some of last season on loan at West Ham.