Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino plays down Gareth Bale speculation

Tottenham Hotspur head coach Mauricio Pochettino has not ruled out the possibility of Gareth Bale returning to North London in the future.

After an injury-hit 18 months with Real Madrid, reports have suggested that Bale could be allowed to leave the Bernabeu for the right price, with clubs in the Premier League likely to be interested in his signature.

Bale enjoyed a successful period with Spurs between 2007 and 2013, but Pochettino has insisted that he does not know whether the Welsh star would ever accept a second stint at the club.

The 45-year-old told reporters: "I don't know, I don't know. I saw him in Madrid when we played there. Always he keeps contact with all the people here, that worked here in the past.

"But you know, what I can say about that, I don't know because I don't have that relationship with him or the people around him. Of course he's a fantastic player. You never know in football what can happen."

Bale scored 55 goals in 203 appearances for Spurs before Real Madrid spent £85.3m on his signature.