Tottenham in talks to re-sign Real Madrid outcast Bale

The Gareth Bale sweepstakes are heating up again.

Tottenham Hotspur have the advantage over Manchester United in the pursuit for Bale after already engaging in talks with Real Madrid.

"Gareth still loves Spurs," the winger's agent, Jonathan Barnett, told Dafydd Pritchard of BBC Sport Wales. "We are talking (Spurs, Real and Bale's camp). It's where he wants to be."

Real Madrid are reportedly willing to sell Bale - who joined Los Blancos from Tottenham for £85.3 million in 2013 - for around £18 million, sources told Mark Ogden of ESPN FC.

However, it's possible the Spanish side could agree to a loan deal and share the cost of the Welsh star's £600,000-a-week salary.

United currently view Bale as an alternative should they fail to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund, according to Jamie Jackson of The Guardian.

United have struggled to get a deal for Sancho over the line because Dortmund reportedly won't budge from their valuation of €120 million (£110 million). It's a fee United regard as too high after the coronavirus impacted finances.

Bale, who rejected a move to Old Trafford in 2013, is said to be intrigued by the idea of playing at United despite being viewed as a backup option, Ogden adds.

However, Spurs could pounce on a deal and offer Bale regular playing time ahead of Wales' Euro 2022 campaign next summer.

Bale's opportunities have been limited under Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, who has dismissed speculation over the winger's future despite dropping him for big matches, including Madrid's Champions League loss to Manchester City last month.

Before his career in the Spanish capital went into a downward spiral, Bale played an important role in helping the club conquer Europe by scoring in two Champions League finals as Real Madrid won the tournament four times in five seasons.