Do Tottenham have a buy-back option for Gareth Bale? Real Madrid forward's contract clause

Gareth Bale's future at Real Madrid continues to be far from certain heading into the new season.

Head coach Zinedine Zidane and the winger have long not seen eye to eye and the Frenchman's recent comments over a possible impending transfer away prompted a backlash from the player's agent.

"We hope he leaves soon," Zidane said. "It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team. I have nothing personal against him, but there comes a time where things are done because they must be done."

Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett replied: "Zidane is a disgrace - he shows no respect for a player that has done so much for Real Madrid."

Eyebrows were further raised soon after when Mauricio Pochettino did not rule out Tottenham's own interest in their former player, despite the huge sums of money expected to be involved in any deal.

Most signs point towards a move to China for Bale, due to wages understood to be close to £600,000 a week before tax, with only Europe's super-elite otherwise able to afford him.

Tottenham inserted a clause in their world-record sale of Bale to Real Madrid which meant they could match a bid for the Wales international.

The option gave Spurs up to 72 hours to match any accepted bid from a Premier League club.

However, the clause only lasted for the length of Bale's first contact at the Santiago Bernabeu, which was six years and expired on June 30, 2019.

Bale extended his contract in 2016 for a further three years, back Tottenham's option did not extend with it.