Tottenham Hotspur are trying to sign Gareth Bale on a permanent deal, per The Express.

What’s the word?

Spurs sold Bale to Real Madrid in 2013 for a world-record fee at the time of £85m.

However, The Express reports that Spurs are trying to bring him back to the club prior to the January transfer deadline, with the club said to be working around the clock on a deal.

While a loan deal has been ruled out – despite Real’s desire to offload the Wales international – the two clubs are said to be negotiating a full transfer.

Bale has made 15 appearances for the club in all competitions this season, scoring three goals, and the report states that any deal will be a challenge to get over the line due to the astronomical £650,000-per-week wages that the 30-year-old earns.

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No chance

There’s absolutely zero chance of this deal coming off prior to the transfer deadline.

While the idea of Bale returning to north London is a romantic one, the sums don’t add up for chairman Daniel Levy.

Spurs’ highest-earner is Harry Kane, who is paid £200,000-per-week, per Spotrac.

Add into that the fact that Spurs are actually working on a deal for Steven Bergwijn, the PSV Eindhoven winger, per sources, and one begins to understand the folly of this report.

Spurs do remain keen to sign an out-and-out striker, even if they do bring Bergwijn in, but Bale is not the man to play in that position, nor is he the kind of asset who can be secured for a reasonable fee.

This simply isn’t going to happen.

Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho has issued an update on one man who could leave this month.