Real Madrid to Tottenham Hotspur for Gareth Bale: “I'm gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas (L) and Bale share a great bond. (Getty Images)

Having joined Spurs for paltry £5m (potentially rising to £10m) as an injury-prone left-back from Southampton in 2007, Bale has transformed himself from a timid gawky teenager to a frighteningly-quick, technically-gifted, free-scoring beast.

Due credit has to be give to Andre Villas-Boas for completing the transformation that began in 2010, when Bale destroyed Inter Milan at the San Siro (Brazilian right-back Maicon probably still has nightmares) with a hat-trick, having been positioned on the left flank by then manager Harry Redknapp.

Bale is a superstar and for most of last season was the difference between cross-town rivals Arsenal and the fourth spot. His performances inspired comparisons with Ronaldo and if he were to move to Spain, it remains to be seen where he would fit in, with the Portugal captain and him being like-for-like replacements.

Deployed in a free role just off the striker, the 24-year-old displayed his full repertoire last season, and scored 26 goals in all competitions, sweeping the individual awards. He was also named PFA’s player and young player of the year and the Football Writers’ Association player of the year.

Bale has come a long way, yes. But for a long time his career was in a downward spiral; in 2007 (ankle) and 2009 (knee) he suffered career-threatening injuries. So much so that he was nearly shipped off to Birmingham for a measly £3m.

Opportunities such as these are rare and that is why he probably sees it as a once-in-a-lifetime one. Levy should also see it the same way. If Bale were to get injured or if he hangs on to him another year (like he did with Modric) his price will nose-dive as he will have only two years left on his contract, and he might not perform to the same monumental heights the following season.

Tottenham have already captured Brazilian midfielder Paulinho for a club-record £17m from Corinthians and Belgian winger Nacer Chadli for £7m from FC Twente. They are also on the verge of finalising the transfer of the £26m-rated Valencia striker Roberto Soldado.

And like Jonathan Wilson, the editor of the football quarterly the Blizzard, said in his piece: for £82m you could buy four top-class internationals. That, frankly, would be of greater benefit to the team in the long run than hanging on to a player who is unsettled.

But it is highly unlikely that Levy will get that through his thick skull. Maybe somebody should put the severed head of an expensive racehorse in his bed, like Don Corleone did to the studio head. That would send the required message. For Fontane actually got the part in the end.

Cue Godfather theme.