Tottenham cannot afford to let Manchester United sign Gareth Bale
Tottenham can’t let Bale move to Old Trafford
Gareth Bale may not be the perfect summer signing for Tottenham, but Spurs cannot afford to let him move to Manchester United instead. Seeing the club’s former talisman suit up for Manchester United would simply send the wrong message to other potential players.
Right or wrong, there is a clear perception that Tottenham are a selling club while United are capable of purchasing any player in Europe. In my estimation, Spurs have been closing the gap on United over the past several seasons. Bale is arguably the last superstar Tottenham have allowed to leave North London.
His departure to Real Madrid wasn’t all that long ago, but things at Tottenham have changed massively since the Welshman left for Spain. Spurs now have a squad capable of winning any competition they enter. The idea of Tottenham winning a Premier League or Champions League title has gone from a silly dream to a distinct possibility under Mauricio Pochettino.
The improvement at Tottenham has opened the eyes of many potential signees across Europe. Most recently, Lucas Moura snubbed quite a few clubs to join Pochettino’s project. He isn’t a superstar, but he’s just the sort of player that would have ignored Spurs interest in the past. His signing was a clear step that Tottenham’s European reputation is on the rise.
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Tottenham, like most Premier League clubs, will be working feverishly to strengthen their squad this summer. Pochettino and company will definitely be in the market for another attacker. It’s quite possible Spurs could be looking to add a striker to replace Fernando Llorente and another attacking midfielder.
The club’s typical philosophy would be to purchase young players who could grow into world-class stars. Indeed, signing a high-priced veteran with a questionable injury history is decidedly against Pochettino’s usual operating procedure. Bale’s history with Tottenham overshadows those questions marks though.
The magic he created at White Hart Lane might be the one thing missing from Pochettino’s current Tottenham lineup. Harry Kane is the hardest working striker in England, but his game is about industry and technique. Heung-Min Son and Christian Eriksen both are capable of moments of magic, but neither has shown an ability to take over matches for weeks at a time. That’s just what Bale did at Tottenham.
The club cannot afford to see that sort of magic travel to Old Trafford. It would be an impossibly bitter pill for the Tottenham fan base to swallow. More importantly, it would reinforce the idea that Spurs are a second tier Premier League club for potential incoming players.
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Conversely, signing Bale would light the Spurs fan base on fire and announce Tottenham’s ambition to the rest of the world. It might be expensive and he might not be a perfect fit, but the club can’t afford to pass on him if it means he’s signing with United.