Seven years after leaving Tottenham Hotspur to join Real Madrid, Gareth Bale has returned to the North London club. During his time in the Spanish capital, the Welshman enjoyed a trophy-laden spell that saw him clinch four Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles. However, injury troubles and a deteriorating relationship with Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane resulted in Bale seeking a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu. So, let's take a look at how the 31-year-old fits into Jose Mourinho's system.
Recapturing his form to take the burden off Kane?
In recent years, Spurs' goalscoring pressure has firmly been on Harry Kane's shoulders. However, with the addition of Bale on a season-long loan, Tottenham now have an attacking trio capable of delivering match-winning contributions. With Bale potentially operating from the right wing and Son Heung-min being deployed from the left, Mourinho undoubtedly has the firepower to get Tottenham back into the Champions League. As of October 7, the Lilywhites are 12/1 to finish in a top-two spot with Betsson live odds come the end of the 2020-21 campaign.
Bale's return will not only take the pressure off Kane from an on-field standpoint, but it will also allow the Englishman to fully recover in the event of an injury. Past seasons have seen the 27-year-old return from the sidelines too quickly because of Tottenham's lack of offensive options. In turn, Kane has missed 35 games since March 2018, as per Transfermarkt.
Although it remains to be seen if the Welshman is now past his peak, the season-long loan is a no-risk deal for Spurs, albeit aside from his sizeable wages. Should he hit similar heights to the 2010-11 season, then the Lilywhites will have one of the league's most dangerous attacks.
What does this mean for Mourinho's setup and squad selection?
Competition for places is pivotal for any trophy-chasing club. In this regard, Tottenham are no different. Aside from Bale, Kane and Son, Mourinho has plenty of other options at his disposal. Within the Spurs squad, the two-time Champions League-winning manager can also call upon Carlos Vinicius, Dele Alli, Erik Lamela, Lucas Moura, and Steven Bergwijn to play across the forward line.
© by Aleksandr Osipov
Regarding the right-sided winger, Bale is one of three natural choices along with Lamela and Lucas. At present, neither the Argentine nor the Brazilian have cemented their place in Mourinho's team, meaning that Bale will likely feature regularly at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, Bale's integration into the setup could allow for a change of shape. Although the Portuguese manager typically favours a 4-3-3, the Welshman's ability to play centrally may see Spurs go to a strike partnership on occasions. With Vinicius – who joined the North London club on a loan deal with a permanent option – also in the mix, Mourinho has plenty of variety at his disposal, should he opt for a formation alteration.
Providing Quality in Depth
Bale's professional record points to the fact that Spurs have signed a world-class player. Although he isn't the same athlete that left seven years ago, the 31-year-old returns with a winning mentality that has long been lacking in the Tottenham dressing room. If he can register double figures for both assists and goals, then the deal will look like a coup.
