Spurs confident Bale will stay one more season

It has been bought to my attention that North London outfit Tottenham Hotspur are confident they can convince Gareth Bale to stay for at least one more season with or without the lure of Champions League if Sam Wallace’s article in The Independent is to be believed. It was only last month that Bale signed a new contract with Spurs, extending his current deal to 2015 and bringing his pay packet on par with the clubs highest earners.

Yet, Chairman Daniel Levy, reportedly, hinted last month that one or more of the clubs ‘star’ performers, most notably Bale or Luka Modric, could be sold to balance the accounts should the club fail to reach the coveted Champions League again next season. These rumours were laughed off by Harry Redknapp who corrected the media presumptions stating that it’ll be squad players who are sold to streamline the squad and trim the wage budget not two of the players Tottenham are looking to build a team around.

Prior to the mid-week Madrid game, Modric, who like Bale recently signed a contract extension with the club, went on record to state the players aren’t looking to move at all with our without Champions League football. While this may be the case that players will stay for one season without rubbing shoulders without Europe’s elite, what will happen should Spurs fail to reach the competition again for a second year running?

It is all too similar to when clubs are relegated and their best player remains loyal to the promotion cause. However, should they fail to bounce back after twelve month, heads are turned and said player makes the move. Should Spurs fail to finish in the top four again this season, a spot in the Europa League is, barring a major slump in form, is all but guaranteed for the North Londoners. It is a similar scenario that would see them, effectively, “relegated” from the Champions League to the lesser competition.

With the club confident Bale will remain at White Hart Lane for at least one more season, it could be perceived as the perfect time to move on for the Welshman. It’s no hidden secret that Redknapp is set to be leaving N17 as Fabio Capello’s replacement with the national side after Euro 2012 and, should the club still be participating in the Champions League upon his departure it will be an excellent chance for a new manager to come in a take the club further both domestically and continentally.

Yet, if the club fail to return to the world renowned competition for two years running, it could see a mass exodus of the clubs better players for pastures new much like the way a club fails to achieve promotion at the first time of asking. Further consequences could ensue, more notably, the lack of apt replacement for Redknapp next year. Without Champions League football, the club could see its big name players depart and a managerial replacement not fitting the bill for the club.

Either way, Champions League football is a must for the club to keep hold of their big name players. They have had a taste of the competition and Bale and captain Michael Dawson have both publicly admitted they want more from the competition. With rumours beginning to make their way around the football world again, it is imperative Spurs make top four again this season and return to Europe’s top competition at the first time of asking or risk facing the prospect of life without the likes of Bale and Modric.

Ben McAleer

Follow Ben on Twitter @BenMcAleer1