Tottenham Transfer News: Latest Chatter Surrounding Gareth Bale and Real Madrid

Tottenham are less than two weeks away from opening the Premier League campaign, and Gareth Bale remains on the squad. While transfer talk continues to swirl, the Spurs haven't backed down in their attempt to keep a major asset.

The 24-year-old sensation has been heavily linked to La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid since the end of last season. Despite the constant speculation, there's been no action. It leaves plenty of question marks as the club finishes its preseason preparations.

Manager Andre Villas-Boas isn't pleased with how the situation is being handled by the Real Madrid brass and said over the weekend any reports that a deal is imminent are off-base, according to Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian.

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"I think the rumours that anything is imminent are not true," the Spurs manager said. "We've allowed ourselves conversations with Real Madrid, confirmed by their coach, I think, wrongly, but the only thing we've communicated is that the player is our player and not for sale."

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Although Villas-Boas didn't completely close the door on a potential move, he made it clear the stance throughout the process is that Tottenham aren't prepared to deal him.

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But of the player, bearing in mind the investment you have seen at Tottenham recently, he is a player who is decisive for us. We are building a very strong team and we are building for a future with Gareth.

In football anything is possible but what we have communicated so far is that we are not willing to concede to their interest in the player.

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The Spurs' attack would take a significant step back if Bale were to exit White Hart Lane. He tallied 21 goals in league play last season, ranking him behind only Robin van Persie and Luis Suarez. It marked his most productive season to date.

At the same time, Real are once again preparing for a season-long battle with rival Barcelona. Their continued interest suggests the Blancos may see Bale as the proverbial trump card that could put them over the top in what should be a great race.

The most important issue at hand is Bale's stance. Tottenham would love to keep him in the fold and build the squad around him for many years to come. But if he's already made up his mind and has no interest in staying, Spurs are in a tough spot.

Tottenham director Sir Keith Mills admitted as much to Mihir Bose of the London Evening Standard.

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Initially, he repeats Tottenham’s standard response to Madrid’s pursuit of their prize asset: "We very much want Bale to stay." But, when pressed, he accepts: "If a player is desperate to leave, it’s very difficult to force him to stay. We've seen it in other clubs. Even if he has a contract, you can’t force somebody to play for you."

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Often, that basic fact can get lost under a mountain of rumors, speculation and everything else involved in an extended transfer saga. A player ultimately holds all the power because he can decide whether or not to play.

Bale has given no indication he's ready to go any lengths possible in order to end up with Real Madrid—at least not yet. And that should give Tottenham some hope the summer storm will pass without losing the dynamic midfielder.

Unfortunately for Villas-Boas and Co., there's still plenty of anxious moments before the transfer window closes and everybody can refocus on the task at hand. For Spurs, that means at least earning a Champions League spot for next season.

The task would become a lot more reasonable with Bale in the lineup. Losing him now, with a very limited amount of time to replace him, would likely be an insurmountable blow in the short term. That helps explain why they are fighting so hard to keep him.

All told, it's only a matter of time before everybody finds out if they were successful or if Bale is headed to a new home.