Tottenham Hotspur are currently the bookmakers' favourites for Gareth Bale's next club.
The Wales star on Thursday night showed once again, as if anyone needed reminding, just what a supreme talent he is when he rifled two stunning goals past Austria to book his country a place in the World Cup play-off final.
After some egregious treatment from the Spanish media, which you can read more about here, it seems almost impossible to entertain the notion that he will stay at Real Madrid, or even in Spain, following the expiration of his contract at the Bernabeu this summer.
Read more : Gareth Bale issues explosive statement after bizarre Marca 'parasite' article
But there is little doubt that there will be a scrambling for his signature in the summer, especially given the allure of a free transfer. Where, though, is he likely to go?
It is, of course, still a way off the summer transfer window opening, but already some teams appear to be notching their way up the pecking order, at least as far as the bookmakers are concerned.
His former club Tottenham lead the odds list at as little as 2/1, while Cardiff City come in second at 8/1. Bale has a strong link with the Bluebirds, of course, given it is his hometown club and his uncle, Chris Pike, was a favourite in the Welsh capital during his playing days with the club.
Indeed just last year, during a Q&A with then Spurs team-mate Joe Rodon, Bale revealed he supports Cardiff. "Of course I'm from Cardiff, and I support Cardiff, but I'm a Welshman," he said. "I try to unite both if it's even possible."
Even Liverpool and Wales legend Ian Rush said Bale moving to Cardiff would make sense, which you can read about here.
Moneybags Newcastle come in third at 10/1, while Rangers , where Aaron Ramsey currently plies his trade, of course, were next at 12/1. Odds on a move to the Ibrox outfit appear to have shortened after Bale labelled then a "big club" when discussing Ramsey's move there.
“Aaron always keeps himself in good shape regardless," Bale said this week. "But he’s obviously happy he’s playing some more minutes than he was at Juventus, which is great news for [Wales].
“He’s said he’s enjoying it at Rangers and it’s a big club. Enjoying your football is the most important thing because if you’re happy in what you’re doing you’re going to play better."
Here is a the list in full...
Gareth Bale next club odds
Tottenham - 2/1
Cardiff - 8/1
Newcastle - 10/1
Rangers - 12/1
Man United - 20/1
Southampton - 20/1
Celtic - 20/1
AC Milan - 20/1
Inter Milan - 20/1
(Odds courtesy of OddsBible, correct at time of publication)
