Ferguson reveals Bale bid

Had Sir Alex Ferguson got his way, Gareth Bale would be turning out in a red shirt at White Hart Lane tomorrow.

The Tottenham star is clearly a man Manchester United must play special attention to as they look to maintain their unbeaten Premier League record.

With 11 goals to his name, including a hat-trick against Inter Milan in the San Siro, the 21-year-old has catapulted himself into an elite group of world stars.

It is talent Ferguson spotted a very long time ago, only to be thwarted in his attempt to get it.

“We tried to sign him as a 16 or 17-year-old boy,” reflected the United chief.

“Southampton had a Scottish chief executive and George Burley was the manager.

“I don’t know the full circumstances but they didn’t accept our offer and I think they must have alerted Tottenham.”