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Gareth Bale: Real Madrid backed for bold Tottenham transfer SWAP deal after Zidane return
REAL MADRID could look to swap Gareth Bale for Christian Eriksen in the summer transfer window after Zinedine Zidane’s return.
Zinedine Zidane on Real Madrid return: I’m happy to be home
That’s the suggestion of Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.
Real re-appointed Zidane as manager on Monday - with the ramifications of the Frenchman’s Bernabeu return currently being discussed.
Los Blancos’ hopes of signing Eden Hazard from Chelsea have been strengthened with the Belgian winger understood to be a huge admirer of Zidane’s, having also openly flirted with a move to the Bernabeu since last July.
But amid reports Zidane has returned just 10 months after departing because he has been transfer full control over transfers and major decisions, Real are also expected to chase other big names.
The Spanish heavyweights - who have won four of the last five Champions League titles - have also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.
But Balague says Real are particularly keen on Tottenham play-maker Eriksen, with the Dane having previously been tipped to join rivals Barcelona.
Meanwhile Bale is expected to be one of the victims of Zidane’s return. Despite scoring twice in the Champions League final win over Liverpool back in May, the Welshman is seemingly unpopular with his team-mates or the club’s supporters.
And Bale - who cost the club £85m when he joined from Spurs back in 2013 - also struggled for minutes under Zidane towards the end of his previous tenure and has therefore been tipped to move on, with Inter Milan and Manchester United among the teams who have previously been linked.
Real Madrid might try to exchange Bale for Tottenham's Christian Eriksen, another summer target
But Balague thinks Real could propose a swap to see Bale return to north London and Eriksen make the move to the Spanish capital in return.
However, Bale’s wages could be a significant hurdle to any deal with the 29-year-old forward said to be on around £650,000-a-week in Madrid.
Writing about Zidane’s return for BBC Sport, Balague said: “It will very probably be good news for Eden Hazard and, if so, very bad news for Chelsea.
“Hazard has made no secret of his desire to join Los Blancos as well as play under Zidane.
“Real Madrid might try to exchange Bale for Tottenham's Christian Eriksen, another summer target, but Spurs cannot afford Bale's wages. And right now he is not willing to reduce them.
“While Real's eyes have been focused for a long time now on the talents of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, Paris St-Germain's steadfast refusal to agree to the sale of either player, combined with Zidane's desire to bring Hazard to Spain, might become one of the first tangible examples of the new coach's strengthened hand.”
Zidane has penned a contract until 2022 having won three Champions Leagues and one La Liga title in his previous spell in charge.
His second reign will begin at home to Celta Vigo this Saturday (3.15pm).