Football.london journalist Alasdair Gold spent some time talking about Gareth Bale’s loan move back to Tottenham Hotspur during the latest video that has been posted on his YouTube channel.
Bale rejoined the Lilywhites for the 2020/21 campaign in September but it may be fair to say that he’s thus far failed to set the world alight back at the north London club.
The Wales international has spent a couple of spells on the sidelines due to injury this term, while he’s also spent plenty of time on the bench. This has seen him make just 12 appearances in all competitions so far this season, only four of which have come in the Premier League, with the 31-year-old scoring three goals in those 12 games.
Bale was left on the bench as Spurs drew 1-1 with Fulham on Wednesday and that prompted Gold to call the Lilywhites’ decision to bring him back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on loan for the 2020/21 season “a dud” before going on to explain that this was a deal chairman Daniel Levy had been wanting to do for years before he was finally able to reunite Bale with the north London club in September.
The journalist said: “I don’t know if there’s a bigger indictment of the current situation of Gareth Bale than Moussa Sissoko starting at right-wing ahead of him.
“That’s not to do down Moussa Sissoko – it’s more to say Gareth Bale, you know, he’s one of the world-class players, that’s what he has been for years. He’s a four-time Champions League winner, he is one of the highest earners at Tottenham Hotspur right now.
“He’s not even starting matches in the natural position that fits him. The Bale deal, at this moment in time, is a dud.
“It’s just such a silly situation because this is a player that Daniel Levy has wanted back at Spurs since he left in 2013 but it’s just never been financially viable, and this is the one year it’s been financially viable and we’re not getting the Gareth Bale we know.
“[It’s] a bit mind-blowing to me, to only use two of your three subs and leave two of Europe’s most well-known goalscoring midfielders on the bench [versus Fulham] – I don’t get it.”
Was this a bad deal for Spurs?
YES
NO
TIF Thoughts on what Gold said about Bale’s Tottenham Hotspur return…
Given that Bale hasn’t played a significant role for Spurs this term and, as Gold explained, while the deal to bring him back was only a loan deal, he is currently one of the highest-earning players at the club, it may be understandable why the journalist was so critical of the deal that the Lilywhites and Levy did to sign him.
It is difficult to disagree with what Gold has said, and so, if the Tottenham decision-makers share Gold’s view, perhaps the Welshman’s Spurs return won’t extend beyond this campaign, with some recent reports claiming that Spurs are willing to extend the winger’s return.