LONDON — Tottenham has received offers from more than one club for Real Madrid target Gareth Bale, according to reports Monday. Bale has been widely expected to complete his long-awaited move to Madrid this week for a world record fee of around £85 million ($132 million). The Wales winger missed Tottenham's 1-0 win against Swansea Sunday after being given permission to fly to Spain over the weekend, reportedly to finalize details over his switch to the Bernabeu. But, with a week remaining in the transfer window, it now appears that Madrid is not the only possible destination for the 24-year-old, who was crowned Footballer of the Year last season after scoring 26 goals in all competitions. Reports claim Spurs have been approached by at least one other club with a firm bid for Bale, leading to speculation Manchester United or Paris Saint Germain might try to steal the star from Madrid's clutches at the last minute. PSG is backed by Qatari owners who have already spent millions on transforming the French club into a European force, while United boss David Moyes is desperate to make a marquee signing after a frustrating summer in the transfer market. Meanwhile, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas revealed following Sunday's win that he expected Bale back at the club's Enfield training ground Tuesday. “Monday is a day off. Tuesday is training so I would expect him to be there,” he said. “We have allowed him two days off. “It's not the first time this has come up. We never force non-selected players to come to our games. I decided that last season. “There is interest from Real Madrid. Whether the transfer will happen or not, hopefully you will have more news in the next couple of days, but at the moment there is nothing I can tell you.” Despite the new development, Madrid remains strong favorite to complete a deal for Bale, with pictures from inside the Bernabeu last week showing a podium being erected to present the player to fans and the media. ‘Moyes to blame for Rooney woes' Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says his Manchester United counterpart David Moyes should shoulder the blame for Wayne Rooney's desire to leave Old Trafford after suggesting he was a second-choice striker. The clubs meet in the Premier League Monday, with Chelsea's pursuit of the unsettled forward adding spice to the early season clash between the two title contenders. Chelsea has made two bids for the England international and has not ruled out making a third, with Rooney reportedly upset by comments Moyes made in pre-season that he would have to play second-fiddle to Dutch striker Robin van Persie. “They are against me?” Mourinho was reported as saying by The Guardian newspaper Monday, when asked whether he would get an angry reaction from the United crowd. “But I didn't say (to Rooney) you will be a second-choice for me. And they are against me? “We are trying to get a player that a manager told ‘You will be a second option' for him. We are not going for Van Persie. “They don't have to be against me. If I say Ramires is a second option for me and he plays when (Frank) Lampard is tired or injured, if someone comes here to get Ramires, nobody is upset.” He was then asked if Moyes should take the blame, to which he replied: “Of course.” Mourinho later softened his stance, saying that every team had good players that were second-choice. “The point is if the players are happy to accept that situation,” he added. Mourinho has spoken openly about his desire to bring Rooney to Stamford Bridge and add him to a strike-force that includes Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku and Demba Ba. — Agencies
