Tottenham To Meet Barcelona Star's Buyout Clause Should Bale Leave - Report
Tottenham Hotspur will consider making a move for rising Barcelona star Cristian Tello should the club lose Gareth Bale this summer, reports suggest.
The talismanic Welshman has completed a clean sweep of the Premier League's individual awards after scoring 25 goals in a exhilarating season for Spurs, but growing interest from Real Madrid suggests his future remains unresolved, particularly if Andre Villas-Boas' side fail to secure Champions League football for next season.
El Mundo Deportivo suggest the north London club have looked at players in the event of Bale leaving, and have identified 21-year-old Tello as a possible candidate.
The Spaniard attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs last summer, when his dwindling contract - which was due to expire this June - saw interest in his services ramp up.
Tello signed a contract extension which will keep him at the club until 2016 late last year, but the player's insistence on a relatively low release clause does not rule out a move this summer.
While he has impressed at Barcelona this campaign with eight goals and six assists this season, question marks remain around Tello's future, should he not be guaranteed more starting appearances in Tito Vilanova's side.
El Mundo report that Spurs may look to capitalise on the player's paltry release clause of €10m, a fee which the club would have no problem meeting should the forward wish to consider options away from Barcelona.
Liverpool reportedly made a bid for the player last August as Brendan Rodgers sought to stamp his authority on the Liverpool squad, before Tello opted to extend his stay at the Nou Camp. However Marca also report that the Merseyside club may renew their interest this summer.
Tello's penchant for attacking down Barcelona's left wing has earned him early comparisons with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. But the humble 21-year-old insists he has a long way to go before even approaching the Frenchman's level.
"I'm still a long way from Henry's football and goals," he told Barca TV.
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.