• Premier League

Soldado hopes for Bale stay

Tottenham's new club record signing Roberto Soldado has urged Gareth Bale to stay at the club - despite talk of a world record move to Real Madrid.

Bale has been one of the main talking points of the summer, and Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti confirmed the Spanish giants are in conversations with Tottenham to sign Bale for a fee anywhere between £80 million and £100m.

"Of course I want him to stay," Soldado said. "Bale is a great footballer and you can see the effort Tottenham are making to prevent him from leaving."

Meanwhile, Soldado eclared that he sees it as 'an obligation' to fire Spurs into the Champions League, as he prepares to complete his £26 million move to White Hart Lane.

Soldado is due in London for a medical on Friday after Tottenham confirmed they have reached agreement with Valencia over his transfer, with the 28-year-old Spain international in buoyant mood as he prepares to link up with Andre Villas-Boas's squad ahead of their pre-season game in Monaco this weekend.

"It was a unique offer and the best offer I have received," he is quoted in the Daily Mirror. "It has always been about a new sporting challenge rather than the money.

"I spoke to Andre Villas-Boas and he convinced me to move for the new project. He is building a new and exciting project and reaching the Champions League will be an obligation.

"The Premier League has always interested me. I watched the matches on TV and played against English clubs in European competition. This is a sensational challenge for me. I promise the fans hard work and I hope they will give me their full support in return."

Soldado's arrival at Tottenham ends their long wait to sign a top quality striker, with a host of star names apparently slipping through the net of Spurs chairman Daniel Levy over the last few years.

The signing of Soldado may also allow Emmanuel Adebayor to finalise his move to Besiktas, which has been on hold for the last month as Spurs looked to find a replacement for the Togo striker.

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