If recent reports are to be believed, then Real Madrid have submitted an £85m bid for Tottenham Hotspur and Wales winger Gareth Bale.
Despite the enormity of the offer – a world-record one at that – the Premier League outfit have continued to repel the interest, but it is said that Madrid are confident of securing their man before the start of their league campaign next month.
As much as it will hurt Spurs to admit it, it is time to let the 24-year-old muddy his boots in Spain.
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Aside from the obvious, it is not too difficult to see why Spurs chairman Daniel Levy does not want to sell his star player this summer.
Levy was criticised for sanctioning the moves of Dimitar Berbatov and Luka Modric to Manchester United and Madrid respectively in recent seasons, with supporters questioning the long-term ambition of the London outfit.
But this isn't £30m or £35m – figures that are becoming the norm in this period - we are talking about £85m, more than Cristiano Ronaldo went for when he left Manchester United in 2009.
That's not to suggest that Bale is not one of the top players in Europe – he is – but to value the Welshman higher than Ronaldo, who has scored 201 goals in 199 games for the capital outfit, does seem extraordinary, even in the current market.
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It isn't about lack of ambition, it is simply about being realistic. That sort of money for a player who is largely unproven at the top, top level just cannot be ignored. Not to mention the type of investment in the Spurs squad that the figure would allow.
It isn't as if Bale is going to submit a transfer request; he simply isn't that type of character. In many ways, he is a rarity in this day and age, a young footballer who only cares about playing the sport that he loves, rather than the lifestyle and soap opera that comes with it.
It also isn't, or wouldn't ever be about money for the Welshman. Yes, he could earn upwards of £160,000 a week in Spain, but according to various sources, Spurs are prepared to offer just short of that amount if he decides to remain in the English capital.
What happens if Bale doesn't leave this summer and once again the club miss out on the Champions League next season? Not only would Spurs no longer be in such a strong bargaining position, it could lead to resentment between the player and the club.
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Bale is a special, special footballer, there is no question about that. There's a big difference between very good players and players who can win games on their own. Ronaldo is a special player, Lionel Messi is a special player, Gareth Bale is a special player – he proved it enough times for Spurs last season.
Let's be honest, how many players are presented with the opportunity to represent Real Madrid? That's not to suggest that Tottenham are not a big club, but for many footballers, Los Blancos are the dream side. Having the chance to put on that famous white shirt just does not come around too often.
Spurs are of the opinion that Bale owes them for sticking with him during a difficult beginning to his career, but over the last couple of seasons it would be fair to state that the Welshman has more than made up for a less than impressive start.
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You could understand why Spurs would not want to sell to a rival Premier League club, in the same way that moves for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and Liverpool's Luis Suarez have stalled this summer, but Spurs are not going to be hurt by Madrid, not this season anyway, not when it would be so tender.
Sometimes you just have to accept that a relationship is over, as difficult as it will be for Spurs to let him go, they can be proud that they helped make him the player and individual that he is today.
As American singer Usher once put it: "It's been a long time coming, but we done been fell apart, really wanna work this out, but I don't think you're gonna change, I do but you don't, think it's best we go our separate ways."
There will always be a special place in his heart for Tottenham, but players of Bale's ilk deserve to grace the very biggest of stages.
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Matt Law
