Tottenham Hotspur are set to make a £5million bid for Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, but the deal hinges on the Red Devils successfully luring Southampton starlet Gareth Bale to Old Trafford.
NealSimpson/Empics
'An Argentinian footballer will always be well regarded.'
United are favourites to sign the 17-year-old Wales international, who is described as '90% certain' to leave Southampton, and his arrival would add further competition at left-back for Heinze.
Bale held a meeting with Saints officials after Saturday's match with Burnley when he made it clear he will not be signing an extension to his current contract, which expires in 18 months.
United can expect to spend more than the £5.5million they want to pay for the highly-rated youngster, with Southampton demanding £10million after rejecting an £8million bid from Tottenham.
Argentina international Heinze has already been pushed out at Old Trafford by the form of Evra and Spurs boss Martin Jol wants him to fill his problem left-back berth, having lost confidence in his present duo of Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Lee Young-Pyo.
Juventus, Valencia, Inter Milan and his old club Paris St Germain are interested in taking Heinze in June, but Spurs are ready to steal a march on their rivals in the January transfer window.
Heinze, a £6.9million signing from PSG in 2004, is still rated one of the best defenders in the Premiership but has struggled to return to form following a series of lengthy injury layoffs. As a result United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has opted for the more attacking talents of Evra.
