Redknapp plays down Bale exit rumours

29 April 2012 20:17

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has refuted claims winger Gareth Bale will look to leave the club this summer if they fail to secure a Champions League spot.

Spurs looked odds-on to finish inside the top four at the turn of the year, but a recent poor run has seen then win only two of their last 10 league fixtures. Bale has long been linked with a move to Barcelona and it was reported he would consider leaving White Hart Lane were he not playing in the Champions League next year.

However, Redknapp said: "He has got to worry about that at the end of the year. He has got a long contract at the club, I don't think he will be going anywhere, he isn't going to find too many better clubs than Tottenham."

QPR boss Mark Hughes, who moved to the Nou Camp as a youngster, said last week he did not feel Bale was ready to move abroad and Redknapp echoed those sentiments following Spurs' 2-0 win over Blackburn.

Redknapp said: "I don't think he is a boy to go abroad at the moment. The first opportunity he gets he goes home to his family in Wales so I don't think he is a boy who would be suited to go abroad at this stage of his career.

"I think this is a great club for him to be at and you can't be letting Gareth Bale go, he is the future of the club."

Meanwhile, Redknapp has admitted that Luka Modric may quit Tottenham this summer.

The north London club managed to hold on to their star midfielder last year despite overtures from Chelsea and he has rewarded them with a series of fine performances that have left Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini purring.

Redknapp said: "Last summer it was vital that we kept hold of Luka. I don't think we will have to do it with people like Gareth Bale this summer. Luka, it's different with him. I don't know what he would do. I would be lying if I said I was sure that he would stay. You don't know.

"You would like to think Luka would still be here, but you never know."

Source: PA