Spurs close in on Bale

TOTTENHAM still appear to be winning the race to sign Wales left-back Gareth Bale from Southampton.

The 17-year-old has also been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal but Spurs look set to move early in the summer transfer market, as they did a year ago when they brought Dimitar Berbatov to the Premiership from Bayer Leverkusen.

While Berbatov led the attack for Spurs, Bale is expected to bolster a defence that conceded 54 league goals last season.