Shrewd Levy Could Sell Bale If Deal Makes Business Sense, Says Allen

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Clive Allen believes that Gareth Bale could be allowed to leave the club this summer if chairman Daniel Levy feels the attacking midfielder has reached his highest value.

Allen, who worked with Bale while coaching at Spurs, still believes that Bale will remain at the club next season but has warned supporters that Levy could well decide to cash-in on the Welshman if he feels it would benefit the club.

Bale's future has been the subject of much speculation this summer, with Spanish paper Marca yesterday claiming that the 24 year old had agreed personal terms and would leave in a deal with around £85m.

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas has maintained that their prized asset will remain at White Hart Lane next season, but Allen warns that it is Levy who holds much of the power and he could decide to sell if he feels the price, and timing, is right.

"Everybody has a price and at the moment Gareth is probably at the highest value he could possibly be at, purely because of what he achieved last season," Allen told Talksport.

"He was so sensational in terms of the quality of the goals he scored and the importance of the goals in big games. Bale got Tottenham to where they were in the league and it's a real dilemma for the club now.

"The whole situation with the supposed leaks and rumours is quite incredible, but it's not down to the agents, there's only one man that will make that final decision and that's Daniel Levy.

"He's very shrewd in the way he goes about his business, and if he feels Bale is at his highest value he will try and maximise the situation."

Allen knows that keeping Bale at Spurs would be a major statement of intent from the north London club but he reiterated his stance that if Ley feels reinforcements can be found then the winger could well be sold.

"I don't think Gareth will go this season, purely because I think it's a similar scenario they had with Luka Modric a couple of years ago," added Allen. "For Spurs to go global as a product they need to be in the Champions League every single season.

"Champions League football is where they want to be and without Bale I'm not so sure they can do it.

"But if Daniel thinks it's good business [to sell] and Villas-Boas is in a position to bring in the players he wants that can still push the team on to Champions League qualification, that would be fantastic business."