Tottenham Hotspur are close to a sensational loan deal for Gareth Bale at what would be a knock-down cost.
The English club have been in talks with Real Madrid for the last 48 hours, with left-back Sergio Reguilon also set to move to White Hart Lane, and are approaching an agreement on the Welsh international.
Although the Bernabeu hierarchy have been pushing for a permanent deal, manager Zinedine Zidane's desperate to get him out of the squad is such that they are willing to significantly compromise.
As it stands, Tottenham are looking to secure a one-year loan, at no fee, and 50% of Bale's wages. That would mean Spurs paying around £250,000 a week. Sources maintain that the only fee to Madrid would be performance related, which would bring the total cost of the deal to just under £20m.
The Independent has been told the prospect of Bale's sensational return repeatedly came up in discussions for Reguilon - who will join on a five-year, £30m deal - and that it made more and more sense for the parties.
The 31-year-old left Spurs for a world-record fee in 2013, after he'd won PFA Player of the Year in a supreme season.
Manchester United are understood to have balked at paying so much for a player at that age, especially after their experience with Alexis Sanchez.
Source: Independent, UK