Gareth Bale

[Sweech]

If he's on loan then we're technically paying his RM wages for a year.. I doubt that would set a precedent that would move Levy too much as it's somewhat different to signing on for 5/6 years like our contracts tend to be now. Not that it would happen, and definitely not on a permanent for reasons above.

The players don’t give a flying crap about that type of nuance. If we’re paying out x amount of money to someone then they’ll want it too and they’d be right to ask.

 

[rossdapep]

Big fat NOPE from me. Would have had him two years ago, even last year. But now if we're spending big it better be for the next big star.

 

[lol]

hell no. i dont want him anywhere near our players. its like an ex who cheated on him albeit with a richer guy, but still a huge no. who knows what will he say when people ask him hows madrid like? if he says " nah dont go, stay here" of course that would be good. but what if he says " well i won trophies, it was amazing player in bernabeu, oh my favourite food, the women are insane blah blah blah".

i dont want to take any chance.
2ndly it changes the unity of the locker room. who is the bigger dog in the locker room now? i dont see the point of risking everything we've built for an injury prone post prime overpaid player

 

[Johnny J]

Zero chance of this. Also, I'd be pissed if we blew a massive chunk of money and wages on a 30y/o player who will have trouble staying fit in the PL. We should be spending that money on young superstars in the making, and a couple of top quality experienced midfielders.

 

[synththfc]

Nostalgia is how United got rid of one of football's most accomplished managers and ended up with the man who relegated cardiff on a permanent basis.

Forgive me, but I'll pass.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

We’ve just limped through a season with a decimated squad. No thanks. He’d be the ultimate luxury given his wages which could be directed towards younger, fitter players with greater potential to improve

 

[SpartanSpur]

I’m not sure we can legitimize paying him 600k a week without our entire playing staff smashing down the door for massive pay rises.

Spurs had no say in his Real Madrid contract though did they? Loan isn't the same as a permanent in that respect. I'd imagine most of the players would be happy to have him in the squad.

He's a returning star player who has 4 CL titles, he'd command the wages we'd be paying him.

Even in the event that he becomes a Sanchez/Ozil type burden I'm sure Poch would keep him away from the squad if needed and he'd be off our hands at the end of the season regardless.

 

[Fredo]

Loool people saying no when he'd be our 2nd (arguably 1st when fully fit) best player and could probably win us the league. All the talk about fees and wages... I think the fans are owed a transfer like this.

 

[Roynie]

Toby goes, Eriksen goes, Janssen goes among others. That could be used, no?

Maybe, but not all on one player.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

I'd be all over it. We have moaned about lack of options without Kane and Son at times. Having a match winner with the winning mentality he has gained at Madrid. £10million loan? I'd do it in a heartbeat.

I think it actually makes a lot of sense. The wages are high but that’s compensated for by the absence of a hefty transfer fee. And he brings in a lot of interest to the club and would push up the value of any sponsorship deal.
He’s also still a very good player. He would be ideal in helping us break down those stubborn defences again.
I normally say never go back but in the case I think Levy should consider this....
Saying that, he loves life in Madrid and probably doesn’t want to come to us!

 

[JayB]

I appreciate the ITK and I'm sure it's true that at the moment Madrid are demanding any club pick up his full wages -- after all, why wouldn't that be their starting point in negotiations.

As the market shakes out over the course of the summer, however, I wouldn't be surprised if they found themselves in the position of either needing to compromise on that demand or facing the prospect of Bale collecting his massive wages from the U23 squad.

United and PSG are just about the only clubs I can see picking up his full wages. I'd be surprised if United wanted to take on that risk after the Sanchez debacle, and PSG are constrained by serious FFP limitations. I doubt any of the other mega money clubs hold an interest.

If it does turn out to be the case that there aren't any clubs willing to pay full freight, that'd leave the only options as subsidizing his wages or sending him to China/Qatar, which I don't think he'd accept.

IF, and it's a big if, we can get him on loan within our wage structure, I'd certainly take him back. He's still a match winner.

 

[Sweech]

Spurs had no say in his Real Madrid contract though did they? Loan isn't the same as a permanent in that respect. I'd imagine most of the players would be happy to have him in the squad.

He's a returning star player who has 4 CL titles, he'd command the wages we'd be paying him.

Even in the event that he becomes a Sanchez/Ozil type burden I'm sure Poch would keep him away from the squad if needed and he'd be off our hands at the end of the season regardless.

The fact is if the club show they can pay those wages the other players (and especially their agents) will want more. Simple as that. There’s really no nuance about it.

 

[SpartanSpur]

The fact is if the club show they can pay those wages the other players (and especially their agents) will want more. Simple as that. There’s really no nuance about it.

We'd only be paying Gareth Bale the wages because they are getting a world class player for 1-2 seasons for a minimal loan fee. There is nuance.

Maybe Levy and or Poch don't fancy it anyway in which case it's a moot point, but if they did I'd be very excited, he's still a a much better player than some in here are giving him credit for.

A one-off loan deal would negate most of the issues such as resale value, and restricts our liability if his injuries take over. I really think Levy is paying close attention to it.

I look at what VDV did for us for 2 years after Madrid before his career tailed off. If Bale could do the same thing I'd be confident of us picking up a trophy or two along the way.

That said if Poch doesn't want him I'd be perfectly content with that, but I can't deny how much I love the idea of him, Kane and Son lining up and terrifying defences.

Edit: Harry's new contract was widely reported at being worth up £15m a year, which is the region of wages we'd be looking at anyway and hasn't seemed to cause any problems.

 

[Sweech]

We'd only be paying Gareth Bale the wages because they are getting a world class player for 1-2 seasons for a minimal loan fee. There is nuance.

Maybe Levy and or Poch don't fancy it anyway in which case it's a moot point, but if they did I'd be very excited, he's still a a much better player than some in here are giving him credit for.

A one-off loan deal would negate most of the issues such as resale value, and restricts our liability if his injuries take over. I really think Levy is paying close attention to it.

I look at what VDV did for us for 2 years after Madrid before his career tailed off. If Bale could do the same thing I'd be confident of us picking up a trophy or two along the way.

That said if Poch doesn't want him I'd be perfectly content with that, but I can't deny how much I love the idea of him, Kane and Son lining up and terrifying defences.

Edit: Harry's new contract was widely reported at being worth up £15m a year, which is the region of wages we'd be looking at anyway and hasn't seemed to cause any problems.

I think it’s almost the height of naivity to think we’d bring someone in and pay them double (or more) what the next player is making and none of the players or their agents would then ask for more.

What would we say when they ask? We have a budget? Because clearly that would be a bold faced lie.

You don’t need to convince me of Bale. I’d like him here and think he’d fit what we need. I just don’t think we can do it without some creative accounting and getting his weekly wage to closer to the 200k or under mark rather than the 600k mark. I’m just not sure how that could get done as Real Madrid need to move money and will not be accepting eating a massive chunk of it.

 

[Giovanni]

My heart says yes but......

 

[SpartanSpur]

I think it’s almost the height of naivity to think we’d bring someone in and pay them double (or more) what the next player is making and none of the players or their agents would then ask for more.

What would we say when they ask? We have a budget? Because clearly that would be a bold faced lie.

I'd love to know what Harry Kane would think. I'd imagine he'd want to play alongside the best players possible to achieve his goals. I doubt he'd be more concerned about what Real Madrid are paying him than that.

If Bale is on loan then there 100% is nuance. I'd only advocate getting Bale in on loan on similar contrubution to Harry at most. I think that could be justified to any players asking for handouts. There's a hierarchy at each club and I think Bale and Kane at the top would be accepted by the vast majority of players.

The Toby dispute happened because of what Liverpool are paying Van Dijk, it doesn't matter what we pay, greedy agents will find a way if that's their goal. Our whole squad pretty much knows they could get more elsewhere and yet here we are in the top 4 again and looking forward to CL final. By your argument they should all be sulking that they are underpaid compared to peers at other top 6 clubs.

Call me naive but the whole point of this stadium is to be more competitive than before, mainly through increased turnover to support increased wages. We are entering a new reality, maybe we need to change how we think about these things (paying higher fees and wages in general rather than this unique situation). We need to start thinking like a club that has a revenue in the top 10 in Europe, not the finanically concious club building a new stadium. It's pretty much what Poch is asking for!

I'm certainly being optimistic but you are also guilty of oversimplification too IMHO.

 

[nedley]

Gareth doesn't want to stay in Madrid. That is fucking obvious.

His agents verbal diarrhoea and defience is typical of a agent trying to protect his client and his own interests.

He will move. No doubt.

 

[Phomesy]

Throw in Modric as a sweetener Madrid. You know you want to!

 

[ThfcLew]

Could Poch manage a 'Superstar' like Bale? It didn't work when he signed Osvaldo for Southampton. It also moves Son or Lucas down the pecking order, which would be unfair after the season they've given us. He'll be at PSG, United or Real again. Our project requires young, hungry players with potential sell-on value.

 

[hutchiniho]

Could Poch manage a 'Superstar' like Bale? It didn't work when he signed Osvaldo for Southampton. It also moves Son or Lucas down the pecking order, which would be unfair after the season they've given us. He'll be at PSG, United or Real again. Our project requires young, hungry players with potential sell-on value.

I couldn’t disagree with this post more.
We have to start acting like a big club now, one that targets and achieves finals and top 4 every season.
That means buying players that improve our starting 11. And if a current player ends up on the bench, great, we’ve just got better.
Sure buy young talented players, would love Brooks, as an example, and improve them to starting 11 As Well, but the idea, we buy to sell on should have ended with bringing in Poch and opening the new stadium, training facilities etc. We do need squad depth, but that should exactly be achieved by buying new starters and nudging players out and to the bench. I like your sentiment but Lucas and Son are big boys, they can play better with competition for places and compete again for firs XI.
We have to embrace the big boys table now. Look how Pool target Alisson and VvD, not two youngster that may prove good three years down the line. Big clubs, ID and buy the best talent.
We’re Champions league finalists. To dare is to do. Glory glory.

Whether it’s Bale or not, it’s time to get the best possible players we can.

Also Lol at Osvaldo the ‘superstar’ ;-)
Even his best season was 16 goals, plus Poch had already managed him at Espanyol so knew all about him.