Gareth Bale's conversation with Mourinho on ‘close’ Tottenham transfer return

Gareth Bale told Jose Mourinho that Tottenham "have a special place in his heart" during the pair's conversations about the Welshman's return to north London.

That's according to Bale's agent Jonathan Barnett, who says that forward's exciting return to Spurs is now "close" following productive conversations with his former club.

Bale left Spurs for Real Madrid seven years ago, with his £85million switch serving as the most expensive transfer in football history until Paul Pogba joined Manchester United three years later.

He now stands on the verge of a return, and Barnett says the 31-year-old would be delighted to rejoin his old club.

"There’s a long way to go on some issues, but without doubt Gareth is closer to leaving Madrid than at any time in last seven years," Barnett told Sky Sports News.

"The deal is complicated, but there’s reason to believe a deal is close and things could move very quickly if discussions continue to go well.

"Gareth has spoken to Jose and explained how Spurs have a special place in his heart."

Mourinho is also said to be eager to get the deal done having missed out on signing Bale when he was at both Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The Spurs boss left the Bernabeu prior to Bale's arrival in 2013, and he says that Real signed him based on his wishes.

"I tried to sign him for Real Madrid which was not possible to do during my time there," Mourinho said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"But the president followed my instinct and my knowledge and the season I left he brought Gareth to the club. There is no secret on that. Even Gareth knows that.

"But I’m not going to speak about him anymore because he is a Real Madrid player."