Tottenham and Real Madrid are in advanced talks over a deal to take winger Gareth Bale to the Bernabeu.
The transfer has yet to be agreed, but it could happen in the coming days and is set to eclipse the £80m world record fee Real paid Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
Wales international Bale, 24, is determined to join the Spanish club.
He has not travelled for Thursday’s Europa League tie with Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia because of a foot problem.
It is an injury that kept Bale out of most of Tottenham’s pre-season programme and the Premier League opener at Crystal Palace.
Any deal will not be announced before Real’s friendly with Qatar side Al Sadd on Thursday. The match will mark the return of Real legend and leading scorer Raul, who now plays for Al Sadd.
The number 11 shirt, which Bale wears at White Hart Lane, has been left vacant at Real Madrid in the expectation their new record signing will take it on his arrival.
To help compensate for his possible departure Spurs have twice broken their previous transfer record this summer, recruiting Paulinho from Corinthians for about £17m and Roberto Soldado from Valencia for £26m.
The additional purchases of Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue have taken their total outlay to about £60m, while Anzhi Makhachkala attacker Willian is in talks over a £30m move and Roma playmaker Erik Lamela is also rumoured to be part of Spurs’ plans.
Bale joined Tottenham for £10m from Southampton in 2007 and scored 26 goals for the Londoners last season.
He was named player of the year by both the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Writers last season.
BBC SPORT
