Possibilities the White Hart Lane side can turn to if they fail to hold on to their Welsh wizard.
Gareth Bale had been linked with a move away from Tottenham for most of last season and it seems that Real Madrid are about to enter into negotiations with Spurs to try and sign the Welsh winger. Bale was fantastic for Spurs last season, scoring 21 Premier League goals and providing plenty of assists. Spurs will find it very hard to replace a player of his quality but here are five players who in their own way, could replace the Welshman at White Hart Lane.
Hatem Ben Arfa- Newcastle United
Ben Arfa is regarded as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous wingers, with his skill and pace enough to get the better of even the best defenders. The Frenchman was one of the main reasons behind Newcastle’s fifth place finish in the Premier League during the 2011/2012 season, providing plenty of assists for the clubs strikers as well as scoring a few goals himself. Ben Afra struggled with form and fitness during the 2012/2013 season but there is no doubting that the Frenchman is still a quality player and could get back to his best with a good run of games. Should Bale leave Spurs, Ben Afra would be a natural replacement for the Welshman on either wing.
The Frenchman possesses pace, skill and a fantastic dribbling ability, characteristics that Bale has in abundance. Following Newcastle’s disappointing 2012/2013 Premier League campaign, reports have suggested that Ben Arfa is looking to move away from Tyneside, feeling that he would like to be playing at a club that has a chance of qualifying for the Champions League by breaking into the Premier League’s top four. That is unlikely to happen at Newcastle anytime soon but it is a possibility at Spurs, if Andre Villas-Boas can sign enough quality players this summer.
Spurs will have plenty of money to spend on players if Bale does leave White Hart Lane for Real Madrid and AVB may decide to use a big chunk of that in luring Ben Arfa to North London. If the Frenchman can get over his injury problems then he would be excellent signing for Spurs and a ready made replacement for Bale.
Bernard- Atletico Mineiro
Although Bale was a winger and a goal scorer, he also set up plenty of goals for Spurs through his excellent passing ability and vision. He could create chances for strikers out of nothing and that quality will be missed if he does make the move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Spurs will need to replace Bale with a player that has vision and enough quality to create a chance out of nothing and Brazilian Bernard is certainly able to do that. Bernard is regarded as one of Brazilian footballs brightest talents, having played a big role in his country’s recent Confederations Cup win. The player could be a part of his country’s midfield for the next ten years and may have a crucial role to play for Brazil at next summers World Cup. Before then, he may end up moving clubs and it has been reported that he could make his way to the Premier League this summer.
For a player of his talent, it was only a matter of time before he made his way over to Europe, with many of his countrymen plying their trade in one of the continents big leagues. Spurs are reportedly one of the many clubs that are interested in signing Bernard this summer and he could be the man that they choose to replace Gareth Bale. Bernard would be given time to adapt to the Premier League, in much the same way that Luka Modric was during his early days in England’s top flight.
If he reaches his potential, Bernard could be a fantastic player for Spurs, someone who is capable of supplying deadly passes for strikers to run onto. However, Spurs will face competition for the signature of Bernard, with Arsenal and Liverpool known to be interested in signing the young midfielder. The Gunners may have the edge over Spurs at the moment as they can offer Bernard Champions League football but if the club do sell Bale then they will be able to offer the midfielder more money, which could be crucial in persuading the player to move to White Hart Lane instead of the Emirates.
Roberto Soldado- Valencia
One of Bale’s most crucial roles for Spurs last season was as a goal scorer. He was the clubs top goal scorer and found the net 21 times in the Premier League. He scored a wide variety of goals, from the simple tap in to the wonderful long distance strike. He scored so many goals for Spurs that some even suggested that the club were a one man team. Arguably the most crucial area that Spurs will need to address if Bale leaves is in the goal scoring department. The club need to sign a prolific striker who will find the net on a regular basis and there aren’t many better that Roberto Soldado.
The Spaniard is one of La Liga’s most prolific front-men, having scored 28 league goals for Valencia last season. He is a player who will be in the right place at the right time to put the ball into the net and that is definitely something that the club desperately need. Reports suggest that Spurs are in the hunt to sign the prolific Spaniard, even if Bale doesn’t leave. The club have sent their technical director, Franco Baldini, over to Spain to negotiate a deal with the Spanish club. Spurs have already submitted several bids for the striker but Valencia’s president is holding out for a bid of £25 million, which would activate Soldado’s buy-out clause.
It is understood that Spurs are unwilling to pay that much for a player that will have little sell on value due to his age. However, should Bale leave, Spurs can’t afford to be picky and will need someone who can regularly find the net for them if they are to stand any chance of breaking into the Premier League’s top four. With a sizeable transfer fee coming from Bale’s sale, money shouldn’t be a problem for Spurs and a deal could be completed quickly. However, Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Soldado and see him as a replacement for Luis Suarez, who looks to be Arsenal bound. Spurs can’t afford to lose Soldado to another Premier League rival and will need complete a deal quickly so that they can sign a player who will need to find the net on a regular basis next season.
Alexis Sanchez- Barcelona
Sanchez was signed by Barcelona two years ago and many thought that he would be their next great player as he possessed skill, pace and a lethal dribbling ability. He had had a highly successful career in Italy before moving to the Spanish giants and he has failed to capture the form that he showed at former club Udinese during his time at the Nou Camp. In his first season he struggled because of repetitive injuries while during his second season he failed to hold down a starting spot, with the Chilean competing with the likes of Cesc Fabregas for a starting spot in the incredibly competitive Barca first team. It is thought that Barcelona will cut their losses on Sanchez and sell the versatile winger this summer, with a move back to Italy thought to be a possibility.
A move to the Premier League has also been mooted, with Spurs one of several clubs thought to be monitoring his situation at the Nou Camp. Spurs may step up their interest if Bale does leave White Hart for the Santiago Bernabeu, with Sanchez being a player who could be seen as an ideal replacement. Sanchez can play in many different attacking positions, from a winger to playing as a central striker. This is very similar to what Bale has become, with the Welshman being able to pop up on either wing or play as a striker.
Sanchez also possesses the pace and skill that Bale has, meaning Spurs would be covered in that area as well. Despite his two disappointing seasons at the Nou Camp, Sanchez possesses undoubted quality and if he can get a run of games together, their is no doubt that he would show that to fans at White Hart Lane. With Barcelona looking to sell, Spurs may not have to pay that much for him either, meaning that they could sign Bale’s replacement for a relative bargain.
Angel Di Maria- Real Madrid
Di Maria was one of Jose Mourinho’s main targets when the Portuguese coach started his Real Madrid career three years ago. Sure enough, Mourinho got what he wanted and Madrid signed the promising Argentine winger. Since then, Di Maria has become a crucial member of Mourinho’s Madrid team, often being one of the first names on the team sheet. However, Mourinho has now left to take up the job at Chelsea and Di Maria’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu is no longer assured. With Madrid set to make a move for Gareth Bale, it appears that their will be no room for Di Maria in Carlo Ancelotti’s first team, as him and Bale occupy a similar position.
In a World Cup year, Di Maria doesn’t want to be finding himself starting games on the Madrid bench and needs to be playing first team football in order to be sure of a place in Argentina’s squad for next years World Cup. Interestingly, reports have suggested that Real Madrid will offer Di Maria to Spurs as part of the deal to bring Bale to the Santiago Bernabeu, showing just how much the Spanish giants want to keep the Argentine. For Spurs, signing Di Maria would partially make up for losing Bale as he possesses similar qualities to the Welshman. Di Maria has plenty of pace and skill and can also whip in excellent crosses that strikers love to be on the end of. At Spurs, Di Maria would be assured of a first team place and the Premier League could well suit him as wingers normally thrive in England’s top flight.
However, the lack of Champions League football at White Hart Lane will bother Di Maria as he has been so used to playing in Europe’s top footballing competition for so long. Jose Mourinho is also thought to be interested in bringing Di Maria to Stamford Bridge and continuing his excellent relationship with the Argentine. However, with Madrid offering Di Maria to Spurs, it looks like the Argentine will end up at White Hart Lane and that certainly won’t be a bad thing due to the undoubted quality that he possesses.