Gareth Bale
Real Madrid could well have to make Gareth Bale the world's most expensive player in order to secure his signature this summer. Reuters

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will have to obliterate the world transfer record if he hopes to size up Gareth Bale for a Los Blancos kit.

All summer the Spanish giants have been in pursuit of the 24-year-old Tottenham star, but thus far Spurs have resisted the overtures. According to The Sun, Tottenham top official Daniel Levy already turned down a bid of £81 million from Madrid that would have also included players Angel Di Maria and Fabio Coentrao.

Levy reportedly does not want any players and is holding out for his £125 million valuation of Bale.

Levy and Tottenham’s insistence to hold on to the talented winger was actually tested by The Times on Wednesday when the paper reported Spurs would reluctantly part with Bale if Luka Modric was sent back along with cash.

Last summer, Madrid acquired the Croatian playmaker from Tottenham in a messy transfer that eventually resulted in a £30 million fee. Modric, 27, spent five years at White Hart Lane and made 127 appearances with 17 goals and 21 assists in all competitions.

Assuming Modric is a part of the deal, a team as wealthy as Madrid still needs to raise funds to afford Bale. The sale of Gonzalo Higuain to Napoli was a start, but more players may have to depart the Bernabeu.

A fire sale could start with 26-year-old midfielder Sam Khedira being sent off to Chelsea for £20 million, according to Metro. The same report cites Madrid's recent acquisitions of Asier Illarramendi and Isco, indicating Khedira might struggle for first team assignments.

The German joined Madrid in 2010 after rising through the ranks of Bundesliga’s Stuttgart. Khedira also has 39 caps and three goals for the German national team.

All the talk surrounding Bale has not diminished Madrid’s interest in Sevilla defensive midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, as reported by Spanish newspaper Marca. A deal has already been worked out according to the report, but with a glut of midfielders already on the squad, Madrid may consider loaning the 20-year-old back to Sevilla or a number of other clubs.

Kondogbia has four years of professional experience, appearing with Ligue 2’s Lens for three years before Sevilla. His name recognition largely stems from his work with the French national youth clubs, where he’s made 48 appearances and scored nine goals.