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Arguably the best British playmaker in football right now, Gareth Bale has been critical to Tottenham Hotspur’s success in the last few seasons, having helped rocket the team into the Champions League in 2010/11, working their way to the quarter finals before losing to Real Madrid.

Now, Real Madrid is set to sign Gareth Bale in a deal said to be worth £105m – an amount Teddy Sheringham has said is too good to refuse and should be reinvested in new players and developing the team, as opposed to simply sitting in the bank.

Sheringham also said that Real Madrid is a club any footballer would love to play for and now that the opportunity has arisen, it is a chance for Gareth Bale to shine against players including Lionel Messi. 

Since joining Spurs from Southampton in 2007, the Welshman has always dreamed of playing for the Bernabéu club in the event that he left North London. 

But after Tottenham’s 5-2 friendly defeat to Monaco, Manager Andre Villas-Boas said: “I think the rumours that anything is imminent are not true.” He criticised Real Madrid’s coach Carlo Ancelotti for publicly confirming that talks had taken place.

“We've allowed ourselves conversations with Real Madrid, confirmed by their coach I think wrongly, but the only thing we''ve communicated is that the player is our player and not for sale.”

“Carlo is a person I appreciate a lot and we have great respect for each other, but bearing in mind this situation they have decided to make it public.

“Normally in situations like this in England it is scrutinised by the (Football Association) with lots of care and attention. We have seen lots of people speak about a player that is not theirs and we are due some respect.

“There are conversations because there is big, big respect between the clubs bearing in the mind the transfer last year (of Luka Modric) and the agreement last year of goodwill between the clubs. At the moment we are following from those instructions.

“But of the player, bearing in mind the investment you have seen at Tottenham recently, he is a player who is decisive for us. We are building a very strong team and we are building for a future with Gareth.

“In football, anything is possible but what we have communicated so far is that we are not willing to concede to their interest in the player.”

Having scored a staggering 31 goals for club and country last season, 17 more than in 2011-12, Bale also set up an additional 17 goals in 2012-13. 

It is his supreme skills on the pitch, being able to work well with his fellow players and read games with hawk-eye vision, that has helped make him the most sought-after player in the world.