Soldado set for the Lane, but Bale out still on

Tottenham yesterday moved to further strengthen their squad with a deal to sign striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia, but the future of Gareth Bale remains uncertain.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has been keen to bring in attacking reinforcements and has long been an admirer of 28-year-old Soldado, who has been a prolific goalscorer in Spain’s Primera Division.

The deal, though, is likely to have cost the White Hart Lane club around £26 million (€30m), the buyout clause which Valencia president Amadeo warned had to be met to pry the striker away. If so, it would see Tottenham break the club transfer record set when they signed Paulinho for £17m from Corinthians earlier in the summer.