Gareth Bale on a free? When the Welshman swapped Tottenham for Real Madrid nine years ago – for a then-world-record fee, no less – you’d have been forgiven for thinking there’d be a massive queue of clubs hoping to capture the forward when his contract eventually expired in Spain.
Yet given Bale’s massive wages and alleged preference for birdies over hat-tricks, there are far fewer suitors than one would have expected. Nevertheless, the rumour mill is rife and the 32-year-old will have a pick of some clubs. We take a look at the potential movers and shakers.
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Southampton – 18/1
“Gareth Bale, back in the Abbey after all these years?” Fifth among the bookies favourites are boyhood club Southampton, whom the baby-faced-then-left-back swapped for Spurs in 2007. Bale played 45 times for Saints, after making his debut as a 16-year-old, scoring five goals and teeing-up 12. A return to the south of England would represent a homecoming, of sorts, for the Welshman.
Newcastle – 14/1
Nouveau riche Newcastle have the edge over Saints, according to bookmakers, with their Saudi Arabian overlords reportedly keen to make a headline signing this summer. Five-time Champions League winner Bale would certainly represent that. But is Eddie Howe’s meticulous coaching philosophy really aligned with singing big names purely for the sake of it?
Tottenham – 6/1
Eleven goals in 20 Premier League appearances during the 2020/21 season represented a decent loan campaign for the returned king. Many expected Spurs to make the deal permanent last summer, but the financial aspects reportedly weren’t right. This July, however, a move for Bale would be far simpler. The Welshman revealed he felt like he’d come home during that campaign. Could he be saying that again soon?
Any MLS club – 4/1
Ah, the MLS. That great retirement village across the pond. Such is the blatant disregard for America’s top-flight, bookies haven't even bothered identifying one club. They’ll give you the lot at 4/1. Whether it’s David Beckham’s Inter Miami or David Beckham’s LA Galaxy, two things are for sure: it’ll pay well and there’ll be a decent golf course down the block.
Cardiff City – 1/3
The heavy favourites are Cardiff City, where Bale grew up. The forward’s love for Wales is well documented and not even a drop down to the Championship appears to be an issue. It would represent a huge fall from grace for a player who scored twice in the 2018 Champions League final, but Bale isn’t a man who seems to care much about what people think of him.
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