Barcelona plot £50M Gareth Bale bid

Posted Thursday, February 09, 2012 by Dailystar.co.uk

Gareth Bale is top of Barcelona's wishlist

BARCELONA are looking at ways of raising cash to fund a massive summer bid for Tottenham’s £50million- rated star Gareth Bale.

Barcelona will consider selling exciting youngsters Cristian Tello, Isaac Cuenca and Jonathan Dos Santos on buy-back deals after putting Bale at the top of their wishlist.

As first revealed by the Daily Express, Barcelona have had Bale watched on several occasions this season. They have also made discreet enquiries about how much it might cost to buy him.

They are aware they face a difficult task to convince Spurs to sell and realise the need to bring in a significant amount of money to finance a realistic offer.

But that has not put off Barca and sources in Spain believe the trio of Tello, Cuenca and Dos Santos could hold the key.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United have shown an interest in 20-year-old forwards Tello and Cuenca, but Tottenham would be given first option if they agreed to do business on Bale.

Barca chiefs Sandro Rosell, Andoni Zubizarreta and Josep Bartemeu recently met to discuss transfer strategy and how they might approach their Bale chase.

Eric Abidal last month signed a new contract with Barca until 2013, but manager Pep Guardiola has made signing a new left-sided player, who can operate at both ends of the pitch, his priority.

Tello, Cuenca and Dos Santos all played in a makeshift Barcelona side who beat Real Sociedad on Saturday and the European champions do not want to lose them for good.

But having seen how well Oriol Romeu’s move to Chelsea has worked out for all parties so far, Barca may look at similar deals for Tello, Cuenca and Dos Santos.

Barca sold midfielder Romeu to Chelsea for £4m in the summer, but inserted two buy-back clauses in the deal that allow them to re-sign him for £8.5m this summer or £12.5m in 2013.

The money helped Barcelona buy Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal, but also ensured they do not have to lose Romeu permanently.

With Tello, Cuenca and 21-year- old Dos Santos set to struggle to get regular first-team football at the Nou Camp for a couple of years, similar arrangements to that of Romeu could suit all parties.

Following their displays against Sociedad, Guardiola said: “Cristian Tello is very fast and does well in one-on-one situations. Congratulations must also go to Isaac Cuenca and Jonathan Dos Santos for the big-game performance they put on.”

Barca have also been made aware of Robin van Persie’s contract stand-off at Arsenal but, at this stage, are more likely to pursue their interest in Santos striker Neymar.

Scott Parker, meanwhile, has urged his Tottenham cohorts to turn a good season into a great one after demonstrating at Anfield on Monday night that they are now more of an all-round force.

Spurs held Liverpool to a goalless draw and could have even snatched all three points had Bale taken a good chance late on.

Spurs have been the surprise package of the title race thanks to their flowing football, although picking up just the single point on Monday leaves them seven points adrift of leaders Manchester City.

Nevertheless, Parker said: “The thing I’m most delighted with is the defensive side, the resilience and the character. These are all things that good teams and great teams have, so that’s a real plus.

“We all know what we can do on the ball at times, how we can dominate possession and dominate teams. But certainly it shows that we’ve come a long way, that we can now come to Anfield and be that strong defensively and show another side to ourselves.

“It has already been a fantastic season for us and it can still be even more of a fantastic season.”

Spurs keeper Brad Friedel feels that Parker has what it takes to be the new England captain and edge ahead of Steven Gerrard and goalkeeper Joe Hart in the reckoning.

“Joe Hart has the mentality to be a captain – but you also have two other ready-made captains in Stevie Gerrard and Scott Parker,” said Friedel.