Glenn Hoddle: Tottenham Hotspur could hold on to Gareth Bale

Welsh international Gareth Bale, missing the game due to injury, sits on the subs bench during the international friendly match between Wales v Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium on August 14, 2013 in Cardiff, Wales. (Getty Images)

Glenn Hoddle has said that the club hasn’t ruled out the possibility of holding on to Gareth Bale, after the former manager stated that he held talks with the club chairman Daniel Levy over the weekend.

The Welsh Wizard has been linked to Spanish giants Real Madrid all summer, but Hoddle said that Levy believes that Bale’s stay would give Tottenham a big boost.

“I was at the Swansea game at the weekend and had a good chat with Daniel Levy,” Hoddle told talkSPORT. “He’s ambitious and believes, if Bale was to stay, that Tottenham could go on and do something really strong in the Premier League.”

The former England international acknowledged that it’s difficult to make a player stay when a club like Real Madrid come knocking.

Manchester United were in the same boat with Cristiano Ronaldo, and failed to convince the Portuguese superstar to stay beyond 2009, when Real Madrid broke the world transfer record by paying United £80m for him.

“It’s difficult for Daniel Levy to stop a player joining Real Madrid,” Hoddle continued on talkSPORT. “When they come knocking, and the lad wants to go, it’s difficult to say no.

“I get the feeling there’s more business to be done though. Levy wants to strengthen the squad. They needed Willian, but he’s gone to Chelsea, and he must get someone who can unlock the door.

“I’ve never seen a Spurs side look so powerful physically but they need someone, dare I say it like Gareth Bale, who can change the game.

“Now, if they are preparing for life without Bale, then they definitely need to go into the market and buy a replacement who can open the door, but you can’t pick that sort of player up easily.”

Tottenham have won both of their opening Premier League fixtures 1-0, with new striker Roberto Soldado appearing on the score sheet in both games. Gareth Bale has not played in either of the side’s matches.