Guillem Balague: 'Real Madrid will sell Gareth Bale'

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague is "convinced Real Madrid want to sell Gareth Bale" at the end of the 2017-18 campaign.

Bale has managed 12 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances for Los Blancos this season, but the Welshman has struggled to hold down a regular spot under head coach Zinedine Zidane.

Manchester United are long-term admirers of the 28-year-old, while Bale's former club Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with a move.

Balague has claimed that the attacker will be sold by the Spanish giants this summer, but doubts whether Tottenham have the resources to bring him back to White Hart Lane.

"I am convinced Real Madrid want to sell Gareth Bale," Balague told Sky Sports News. "That is not Bale's preferred choice, he would like to stay.

"Obviously somebody will have to buy Bale but I don't think it will be Spurs; it doesn't make sense for him to go back and it would cost Spurs too much to bring him back.

"Of course Spurs would like to have Bale back but their targets are different. Other teams are better prepared and have a greater desire and financial possibilities. You only have to compare their expenditure to the highest in the Premier League to see they don't have the kind of money it would take to sign Bale."

Bale has struggled for Champions League football this season, and is again expected to be on the bench when Real Madrid face Juventus in the first leg of their quarter-final next week.