Home bird Bale not a Robin

Almost exactly a year ago Robin van Persie accepted the Footballer of the Year award and declared, with a mournful look in his eye, he would “always be a Gunner” before promptly signing for Manchester United.

But hope is growing at Tottenham that latest recipient Gareth Bale will break the trend and remain at White Hart Lane for at least another season, regardless of whether they finish in the top four.

Bale, who has scored 30 goals already for club and country this campaign as fifth-placed Tottenham head for a must-win game at Stoke tomorrow, is being courted by some of the biggest clubs in the world, ranging from Real Madrid to PSG and, of course, United. But suggestions that a failure to clinch Champions League football — which looks a distinct possibility with only two matches to go — would prompt another swift departure from north London to join van Persie at Old Trafford or Luka Modric at the Bernabeu — are slowly starting to lose credence.