Gareth Bale linked with £40m move to Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur's Gareth Bale has been linked with a sensational £40m transfer to Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini is allegedly ready to make the Welsh star an offer that will triple his current wages in a move that could see Emmanuel Adebayor travel in the opposite direction.

The Sky Blues' Arab owners have given their backing to the cash-plus-player arrangement, according to The Mirror.

Background work on a transfer is already said to have taken place.

Bale previously hinted that he could leave Spurs in the summer if they fail to secure a place in next season's Champions League, alerting the interest of several top European clubs, including Barcelona.

However, the Eastlands outfit may be prepared to offer him £30m over five years to convince him to stay in the Premier League.

Adebayor - currently on loan at Spurs - is one of several potential players who could move to Spurs in an exchange deal. Other candidates include Nigel De Jong and Adam Johnson.