• Premier League

Bale not sweating on Real speculation

Gareth Bale became the first player since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007 to pick up both PFA awards © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: AVB: Bale similar to Ronaldo
  
• News: Bale scoops PFA Player of the Year awards
  
• News: AVB: Bale will stay if Tottenham seal top-four finish
  
• Profile: Gareth Bale

Tottenham Hotspur winger Gareth Bale insists he is paying no attention to rumours that he is attracting interest from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

Bale, 23, has repeatedly been linked with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in recent months, having previously said he would welcome a move abroad at some stage in his career.

However, asked about the reports that he could leave the club this summer, he said: "I just take no notice. It's all speculation. I can't do anything about it. I just concentrate on my football and play as well as I can and do my best for the team."

Andre Villas-Boas has said he would expect Bale to stay at White Hart Lane if Spurs finish in the top four, and Bale said he would swap his Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards for Champions League football next season.

The Spurs winger held off the likes of Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez and Michael Carrick to pick up the PFA awards on Sunday but said he would "definitely" trade them in for the chance to play in Europe's elite competition once more.

"Overall we have been fantastic this season," he added. "We still have quite a young squad when you compare us to a lot of the other teams. A lot of us area round a similar age. We have been together now for three or four years. We have grown up together and the confidence is there.

"We are still young, and are improving every season and hopefully we can reach our ambitions [of qualifying for the Champions League], which we know we can achieve."

Bale has been in superb form for Tottenham, scoring 19 times in the Premier League so far this campaign, but he does not believe he has reached his peak yet.

"I definitely think I can improve,'' Bale said. "There is still a lot for me to do. I have only just moved into that role in the centre so there is still a lot for me to learn and hopefully I can continue to do that.

"As long as I keep working hard on the pitch and in training hopefully that will come true. I'm still learning different parts of the game.

"If you are struggling on the left you can go to the centre, and if you are struggling there you can move to the right so it's obviously great being able to play in a lot of positions and it does make you a better footballer.

"I have enjoyed playing all the positions. My favourite is probably the central role where you play behind the striker. There you can go left, right, short or deep. It's a role I have enjoyed and hopefully can keep improving on."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.