Gareth Bale is a player who will forever be etched in Tottenham Hotspur history after capturing the hearts of the fanbase during his two separate spells at the club.
The Welshman notched 228 appearances for the Lilywhites, 194 of which came during his first spell, which saw him shift from a left-back to a winger - a move that would catapult him to stardom.
He scored 71 times for the club, including 26 during his final year in the side, before he completed a then-world-record deal of £85m to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2013.
The now-retired star would return to North London back in 2020/21, but only on a temporary basis, going on to score 16 times in his 34 appearances and once again give the supporters various moments to shout about.
A couple of years on, boss Thomas Frank must wish he had a talent of that calibre in the side, subsequently delving into the transfer market to add to his current squad.
The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer
Southampton forward Tyler Dibling has been once again linked with a move to join Spurs this window, potentially following in Bale’s footsteps in joining the side from the Saints.
Any deal for the teenager would certainly be an expensive investment from the hierarchy, with Will Still’s side currently demanding £55m for his signature this summer.
However, he’s not the only forward currently on their radar, with the Lilywhites firmly in the race to land Real Madrid star Rodrygo, according to Spanish outlet AS.
They claim that the Lilywhites have held informal talks with the 24-year-old’s representatives over a move to North London, but could face competition from Arsenal and Liverpool during the off-season.
It also states that the LaLiga outfit are willing to offload the Brazilian international this summer, that’s only if any side meets his current asking price of €90m (£79m).
Why Spurs’ £71m target would be the best winger since Bale
Many players have tried to fill the void in wide areas since Bale’s departure, most notably Lucas Moura, who spent five years as a Spurs player between 2018 and 2023.
The Brazilian’s best moment undoubtedly came in the Champions League semi-final back in 2018/19, where he netted a hat-trick against Ajax to secure the Lilywhites’ place in the final against Liverpool.
Brennan Johnson is another player who’s tried to emulate the success of his compatriot, costing a whopping £47.5m back in the summer of 2023, joining the club from Nottingham Forest.
Whilst the 24-year-old scored the winner in the Europa League final back in May, he’s often struggled to match the expectations placed upon him given the nature of the transfer fee.
However, the club could be about to land a new star winger in the form of Rodrygo, with the Brazilian having all the tools to be a huge success in the Premier League.
When delving into his stats from the recent campaign, the forward massively thrived in LaLiga and ranked highly within the other players in the division.
Rodrygo, who’s been labelled “world-class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, notched 11 combined goals and assists, handing Frank’s side the added threat he craves in the final third.
He also completed 4.1 progressive carries per 90, a figure that ranks him within the top 2% of all players within Spain’s top-flight, showcasing the threat he possesses with the ball at his feet.
The Brazilian also registered 2.3 successful take-ons last campaign, always liking to get the ball into dangerous areas, subsequently allowing other players in North London to thrive in 2025/26.
It would be another mammoth deal completed by their hierarchy, but it’s one that would make the side a true force to be reckoned with during Frank’s first year at the helm.
If he can get anywhere near the levels produced by Bale during his own spell at the Lilywhites, it would be a sensational signing and one that could set the side up for further success.