Gareth Bale: Real Madrid forward will not join former club Tottenham

Gareth Bale will not return to Tottenham this summer as his agent prepares to hold talks with Real Madrid over the Welsh forward's future.

After scoring twice in the Champions League final win over Liverpool, Bale said he needed to play more often.

Agent Jonathan Barnett will discuss that with the Spanish club this week.

However, despite Spurs having a buy-back clause in the £85m deal that took Bale to Spain in 2013, a return is considered unrealistic.

The north London side have the chance to match any accepted bid from a Premier League club, but Bale is under contract until 2022 and is thought to earn more than £400,000 a week after tax.

BBC Sport understands Bale and his advisors have not ruled out staying at the Bernabeu but the player is not willing to accept a bit-part role in Zinedine Zidane's squad.

• 'If I was Bale, I wouldn't want to be a Real Madrid player next season'

Analysis

BBC Sport's Simon Stone

As it stands, plenty clubs would be interested in the four-time Champions League winner but very few clubs could match his financial demands.

Manchester United have been linked with Bale frequently over the past few years but invested heavily in Alexis Sanchez in January, after which manager Jose Mourinho said he would be concentrating on strengthening in other positions during the summer transfer window.

Manchester City appear to be more minded to renew their interest in Leicester's Riyad Mahrez, whilst Chelsea's uncertain managerial situation makes a move to Stamford Bridge more complicated in the short term.

Away from England, Paris St-Germain have the finances, and Bayern Munich and Juventus have the pulling power, to be viewed as potential destinations.