Real Madrid's 'dirty tricks' to get Gareth Bale leave Spurs raging

TOTTENHAM last night warned Real Madrid to back off over Gareth Bale as the dirty tricks campaign to unsettle him rumbles on.

Bale is going nowhere insists Spurs boss Villas-Boas

Sources close to Bale insist he has NOT asked for a transfer OR agreed terms with Real - contrary to several reports this week from the Spanish giants.

But Starsport has also learned that Spurs are so determined to keep him they have even issued a written hands-off warning to Madrid refusing to negotiate under any circumstances.

A club insider said last night: "We've made our position clear. It won't change. We have no interest in entertaining bids."

Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas is furious with Real's behaviour and grew increasingly irritated as he fielded more questions about Bale's future in Hong Kong yesterday.

Villas-Boas said: "On Gareth, I want to repeat what I was telling you last season and what I was telling you from the beginning of pre-season so I cannot extend myself. He's a Tottenham player, we are counting on him for the future."

Spurs look unlikely to match Roberto Soldado's £26m buy-out clause

“He's a Tottenham player, we are counting on him for the future.”

Andre Villas-Boas

Claims in Madrid newspaper Marca yesterday that Bale has agreed an eye-watering six-year contract with Real worth £8.5m a season are wide of the mark.

Bale will miss the club's Asia Trophy opener against Sunderland today, but Villas-Boas insists there is nothing sinister in that as he has a training-ground knock.

Meanwhile, Spurs opened the door for Liverpool to nab Roberto Soldado from under their noses last night after failing to meet his £26m buy-out clause.

Director of football Franco Baldini returned home emptyhanded after presenting Valencia with a new bid of around £22m plus performance-related add-ons for the Spain striker.

But Spurs risk missing out because representatives from Liverpool are now expected in Valencia for talks tomorrow.

Villas-Boas said: "Roberto is one of the players we have been following. But there isn't a deal being struck at the moment, it's just interest and conversations."