Real Madrid line-up £33m bid for Gareth Bale

Reports in Spain claim Jose Mourinho has made the Tottenham winger his number one target

With every dazzling display, such as the hat-trick performance against Aston Villa, Tottenham fans rejoice and despair in equal measure at the spectre of Gareth Bale.

While the Welsh winger's performances have helped propel Tottenham into a Champions League place, the interest in prising him away from White Hart Lane only increases.

The latest report claims that Real Madrid have made a £33m bid for the 23-year-old.

Marca, a newspaper known for its close ties with Los Blancos, claim the deal is for 40 million euros and that manager Jose Mourinho will not rest until his number one target has arrived at the Bernabeu.

The report follows claims by Marca that a total of £56m has been put aside to ensure a lucrative package can be put together for the former Southampton player.

Real Madrid can be certain Tottenham will not let Bale go without a fight. Discussions with chairman Daniel Levy are sure to be difficult, an experience the La Liga champions endured with the transfer of Luka Modric in the summer.

Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas will also be reluctant to let Bale leave, stating last month: “Like all of our key players, Gareth is on a long-term contract as we continue to build for the future. We have no intention of letting any of our top players go.”