It’s safe to say that Gareth Bale’s return to Tottenham Hotspur hasn’t proven to be the fairytale that the fans thought – or hoped – it would be.
The 31-year-old is averaging only 40 minutes per appearance in the Premier League – playing 160 minutes across four matches – and doesn’t seem to be doing much to challenge Jose Mourinho.
It’s indicative of Bale’s struggles that Steven Bergwijn, not the most popular player among Tottenham fans, is walking into the first XI most weeks, despite being a wee bit out of form.
But if one rumour is true then the Welshman could be in a lot more trouble.
That’s because Foot Mercato reported on Thursday that the North Londoners are interested in signing Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic on a half-season loan.
And if that’s true, Bale, the superstar signing from the summer, could be Mourinho’s third-choice option for that left wing spot.
It’s unthinkable that Bale – the Gareth Bale – would struggle to make Mourinho’s matchday squad on a regular basis, let alone starting lineup.
But it’s a genuine possibility if the Perisic thing is accurate and Mourinho signs the Croatia international.
Bale was a great player for Spurs, but it’s looking increasingly likely that he’s a diluted version of the electric best that secured an £86 million move to Real Madrid in 2013, a world record at the time.
Perisic is the same age – also 31 – but if Mourinho thinks he can be a bigger asset than the former Southampton starlet then perhaps that says a lot in itself.
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