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Bale’s Real move nears as Spurs director arrives in Madrid

LONDON — Gareth Bale’s signing for Real Madrid drew closer last night (Aug 21)) when Tottenham Hotspur’s sporting director, Franco Baldini, travelled to the Spanish capital, where he continued negotiations with Roma over Erik Lamela and Miralem Pjanic and sought to close a deal to have a Madrid player involved in the Bale transfer.

Tottenham’s Welsh international Gareth Bale sits on the subs bench during the international friendly between Wales and Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium on Aug 14, 2013 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Getty Images

Tottenham’s Welsh international Gareth Bale sits on the subs bench during the international friendly between Wales and Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium on Aug 14, 2013 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Getty Images

LONDON — Gareth Bale’s signing for Real Madrid drew closer last night (Aug 21)) when Tottenham Hotspur’s sporting director, Franco Baldini, travelled to the Spanish capital, where he continued negotiations with Roma over Erik Lamela and Miralem Pjanic and sought to close a deal to have a Madrid player involved in the Bale transfer.

Sources at Madrid remain convinced that the Bale move will go ahead and Spurs do not want the saga to run to the final day. Both sides expect the deal to take place and it is believed the discussions now centre on whether there will be a player exchange involved, possibly Fábio Coentrao or whether it will be a straight cash deal.

Spurs have spent £60 million (S$120.3 million) on players and a £30 million deal for Anzhi Makhachkala midfielder Willian is likely to be finalised before the weekend, but Andre Villas-Boas remained coy when asked if Lamela and Coentrao were also imminent arrivals.

“They have not signed for Spurs,” said the Tottenham manager. “Both of them are great players but I cannot extend myself. We will see some new players in defence and attack.” THE GUARDIAN

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