Could Arsenal make a shock move for Gareth Bale this summer?

FT Desk

• 2 Apr 2022 05:58 CDT
• 5 min read

Former Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman has suggested that he would take Gareth Bale at Arsenal “all day long” next season.

The Wales international is coming to the end of his contract at Real Madrid this summer and will be allowed to join another club for free.

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As such, Bale has been heavily linked with a number of clubs and most notably a return to the Premier League.

However, much of the speculation has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, where the winger made his first big break in top-flight football and where he spent last season on loan.

Despite that and the obvious consequences of joining a rival, Seaman was adamant that he would overlook all of that to see Bale in an Arsenal shirt next season.

“I was going to say Arsenal, but I just realised he [Bale] played for Tottenham. I would take him, I would take him all day long,” said the former England international on his podcast.

“He’s a quality player, there’s no doubt about that. He’ll come back and hopefully, he’ll play in the Premier League.

“Quality like that is good to see, especially with his free-kicks. It’s not just his free-kicks, it’s his delivery as well, the corners and the free-kicks he crosses in. It’s like James Ward-Prowse.”

Would Arsenal make a move for Bale?

There certainly is some logic behind Arsenal making a move for Bale this summer. Not only is the Wales international available on a free contract, but he would also fill a notable hole in Mikel Arteta’s team, as they continue their quest to find some more firepower in the attacking roles.

Bale would also prove to be an exceptional leader and role model for an Arsenal squad that is still relatively inexperienced when it comes to challenging for major trophies.

However, the major stumbling block to signing Bale is the player’s likely wage demands. And while the 32-year-old forward may not demand a salary to match the €692,660 per week he currently earns in the Spanish capital, even half of that would blow a huge hole in Arsenal’s budget.

And, considering how much effort Arteta has put into moving on older players on huge contracts such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, bringing in a player like Bale this summer would be seen as something of step backwards in more ways than one.