Zidane: Bale fee not an issue

Real Madrid ambassador Zinedine Zidane claims Europe's top clubs would be prepared to spend big on Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale.

The Welsh forward, who recently landed a PFA awards double by being named Player and Young Player of the Year, continues to be heavily linked with a summer move away from White Hart Lane.

Spurs are understandably reluctant to part with their most prized asset, with Bale having helped to fire them into contention for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

They would demand a sizeable fee if a deal were to be done, but Zidane does not see that being an issue for the sides reported to be leading the hunt for Bale's signature.

The former World Player of the Year said: "After the season he has just had - and still being so young, of course - Gareth Bale is going to be one of the most expensive players in the world if he decides to move.

"Tottenham could demand £40m, £50m, maybe even £60m for him. It is a lot of money, but there are maybe three or four teams in the world that can pay that sort of transfer fee, and it won't put them off.

"A player like Bale can be the difference between a big club winning the league or the Champions League.

"They would be getting the best player in Europe this season - and he is at an age where he can still play at the top for another 10 years."


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Zidane says Bale is most impressive player in Europe

Zinedine Zidane says Tottenham's Gareth Bale has impressed him more than any other player in Europe this season.



The Welshman has been in dazzling form this term, scoring 27 times for club and country, and his displays have caught the attention of the former World Cup winner, who has been tipped to join the coaching staff at Real Madrid next season.



Zidane went to watch Bale in Tottenham's Europa League tie against Lyon in February and described him as a "unique" talent due to his combination of pace and technical ability.



He told : "This year the player who's impressed me most is not actually playing in the Champions League. He's playing in 'the other cup' and that's Bale.



"He's unique. He makes things look easy, his pace is frightening, his acceleration is unbelievable because of his ability to go through the gears in very little space.



"Plus, he's very good technically which is also important. We mustn't forget that he plays football very well!



"And he's really impressed me. I've seen him two or three times live, including recently at Lyon, which wasn't necessarily his best game, but where every time he got the ball he can surprise you."



Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas described Bale as "world class" after another man-of-the-match performance against Swansea at the weekend and Zidane agrees he deserves to be spoken about in such terms.



But he doesn't feel the 23-year-old can yet be compared to the likes of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.



"He's perhaps not quite at the level of the other two, but he's different," Zidane added.



"So personally I don't think he's far off."