More than 10 clubs have declared their interest in trying to sign Wales’s World Cup hero Gareth Bale.
Cardiff are increasingly hopeful they can pull off a major coup and land Bale but they are just one of a long list of sides keen to offer the in-demand Welsh superstar the chance to continue his club career ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Captain Bale inspired Wales to their first World Cup in since 1958 on Sunday against Ukraine and will now continue playing club football, at least until the tournament which starts in November.
Gareth Bale scored the winning goal in Wales’ World Cup play-off victory over Ukraine
Bale will turn his attention back to club football before playing for Wales at the World Cup
He revealed ahead of Wales’s meeting with Ukraine that he had ‘loads’ of offers and that number is well into double figures.
Bale is available on a free after leaving Real Madrid where he spent nine years and won 16 trophies, including five Champions Leagues.
Championship Cardiff believe there is a genuine chance they can agree an ambitious deal to bring Bale, who has also played for Southampton and Tottenham, back home to the city where he was born.
Bale is looking for a new club as he prepares to leave Real Madrid after nearly nine years in Spain
Bale earned around £600,000-per-week at Madrid but money will not be the motivating factor for the 32-year-old and Cardiff believe he could be tempted to join them for a comparatively, minimal pay packet.
Though they are far from alone in wanting to sign Bale who has yet to make a decision on his future.
Wales still have three more games to play over the next week and Bale will focus on them and his end of season break before turning his attention to assessing all the options for his next move.
