Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has insisted that the club can retain the services of Gareth Bale for next season.

The Welsh winger scored his 21st Premier League goal of the season on Sunday, as Spurs beat Sunderland 1-0 at White Hart Lane.

That result was not enough to earn Champions League qualification for Tottenham, as rivals Arsenal won at Newcastle United to finish fourth.

It has been suggested that Bale will now seek a move away from North London, with Real Madrid the favourites to sign him.

However, Villas-Boas remains confident that the 23-year-old, who is under contract until June 2016, will stay put.

Asked if it would be hard to keep hold of Bale, Villas-Boas told Sky Sports News: "No, I don't think so. It has been an ongoing question. I think it is absolutely fine.

"We have to keep our ambitions high and hold on to the best players. The reference is there from the points tally to make it better for the future and to do that we need to hold on to our best assets.

"Today was another great moment of individual brilliance, although the squad in the second half was really, really strong and everyone was pushing for the winner."

Bale won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in April.

He was then voted Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association earlier this month.