Selling Gareth Bale would ‘send out the wrong signals’

Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has laughed off suggestions he could cash in on Gareth Bale following the Wales international’s impressive recent performances for the London club.

Redknapp, whose side lost 4-3 against Inter Milan the San Siro on Wednesday night, said: “Tottenham is a club that is looking to progress, not to sell its best players. Selling him would send out the wrong signals. It would make us a selling club.

“We have to build a team around him and if Tottenham can progress to become a regular Champions League team, he would be a big part of that.”

Bale was instrumental in propelling Spurs to Champions League qualification last season with crucial goals against Arsenal and Chelsea as well as countless assists towards the end of the 2009-10 campaign.

And the 21 year-old started in much the same vein this season with a breathtaking volley against Stoke in September before dazzling in Europe last night with a magical second-half hat-trick against Inter Milan to help Redknapp’s men come back to 4-3 after having been four down at the break.

“He’s an amazing young player,” added Redknapp. “He plays left-back, he plays wide left, he scores goals, he can run all day. Even first half, he gave the right-back a torrid time, I felt.

The 63 year-old added: “The right-back’s one of the best right-backs in the world, possibly.”