Mon May 23, 2022 4:24 pm
Southampton latest linked with Bale
Southampton are the latest club to be linked with a move for Gareth Bale this summer.
Cardiff are thought to be right in the conversation when it comes to the Wales captain's next destination, given it is his boyhood club and he is "likely" to be moving back to play English football next term, according to his agent Jonathan Barnett.
Barnett also said that, while Bale is yet to decide publicly where his future lies, Cardiff has "a lot of plusses". Indeed, Bale's national team boss Rob Page said that a move to Cardiff City Stadium "ticks a lot of boxes".
But it's not as simple as that, of course. Any move will have to be driven from Bale's side, one would think, as he won't be short of offers. Cardiff will hope that the draw of being closer to home, in Wales where he is adored, will be a big pull for him.
In terms of sentiment, though, Southampton has its own pull, given he joined the south coast club at the age of nine. Now, Italian outlet Calciomercato claim the Saints are "on his trail" ahead of a summer switch.
Bale has also been linked with Tottenham and Newcastle, as well as Cardiff City, of course.