West Ham United declined £3m Gareth Bale transfer?

West Ham United reportedly refused the chance to sign Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur in 2009 for £3m.

The 23-year-old, who has recently been mentioned in the same breath as La Liga stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, is rumoured to be the subject of a £70m bid from Real Madrid in the summer.

Two years after moving to White Hart Lane from Southampton, the Hammers were given the opportunity to capture the Wales international for £3m but decided against completing the deal, according to the Daily Mail.

Meanwhile, Bale, who signed a new long-term contract with Spurs in the summer, is expected to start in Sunday's North London derby against Arsenal.