Real Madrid prepare summer bid to woo Gareth Bale from Tottenham

André Villas-Boas has admitted that Tottenham Hotspur must qualify for the Champions League in order to keep Gareth Bale from the clutches of predatory clubs, with Real Madrid preparing an offer for the player in the summer. The Tottenham manager also hopes that a massive price tag could serve as a deterrent for interested parties, The Guardian reports.

Bale is one of the hottest properties in European football and Real are monitoring his – and Tottenham's – situation closely. The Wales winger, who has scored 13 goals for Tottenham this season, plus four more for his country, is on record as stating his admiration for the Spanish champions.

Defoe damaged ankle ligaments in the Bale-inspired 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion last Sunday and Villas-Boas reported that he would be out for "two to three weeks". That, though, would appear to be an optimistic prognosis. Defoe's foot remains in a protective boot and it cannot bear his weight.

People close to the England striker do not want him to rush his comeback, mindful that he did so when he previously suffered ankle ligament damage to do more harm than good. Defoe is more likely to be out for six weeks, possibly longer. It should be noted, however, that Defoe always wants to play.