Tottenham Transfer Rumours: Spurs Must Not Budge on Gareth Bale's Huge Price Tag

When the summer began, it seemed inevitable that Tottenham Hotspur superstar Gareth Bale would be moving on to bigger and better things with a new, more high-profile club.

But according to a recent report from The Daily Mail's David Kent, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez believes that Bale's current price tag (€100 million or £85 million) is "a lot." The reaction seemed to suggest that Los Blancos are second-guessing a potential move for the PFA Young Player of the Year.

But what Perez didn't say is that the cost is too high. And as one of the top football clubs on the planet, there should be little doubt as to whether Real can afford the massive fee.

Therefore, Tottenham's front office should be in no hurry to reduce the price with the transfer window winding down.

Parting ways with a talent as rare as Bale is never easy for a team on the cusp of contention, but if Tottenham can land the amount their asking for, losing their best player won't hurt quite as much.

Obviously, having Bale on board gives Spurs a better shot at the Premier League crown in 2013-14. The squad finished just one point back of Arsenal for a UEFA Champions League qualifying berth last season, and that was with Bale missing five of the club's 38 league matches. 

The 24-year-old winger scored 21 of the team's 66 league goals. Even with €100 million in hand, replacing that level of production before the end of the summer transfer window would be difficult.

While hanging on to Bale for another half a season or more will only be delaying the inevitable, it will also keep Spurs relevant in the Premier League, which is critical if the club hopes to return to the Champions League and lure in top-tier talent.

In the end, Tottenham have what Real Madrid want and therefore have a majority of the leverage in this case. To give in to the Spanish powerhouse and reduce Bale's price would be foolish.

After all, Real have to feel somewhat desperate for Bale's services after coming off a tough season in which they missed out on the Champions League and Copa del Rey titles in addition to finishing second behind Barcelona in La Liga.

Perez and Real have to know that there are plenty of big clubs with money to spend, but only one Gareth Bale.

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