Not many would have expected Gareth Bale to ever be linked with a move to Celtic and yet here we are. The Welshman is set to leave Real Madrid at the end of this season when his current deal runs out and could be in search of a club, especially if the Wales national team ends up qualifying for the upcoming World Cup. Thus, it could be a very interesting race for the four-time Champions League winner.
Of course, it is completely out of question for Celtic to go anywhere near the wages that he receives at Real Madrid right now.
But a rumour has floated around that Bale could look to sign a short-term contract with a club where he will play regular football leading up to the World Cup. Of course, there is also the possibility that he could end up retiring, at the age of 32, if Wales fail to qualify for the competition.
As reported by The Sun, bookmakers have placed Celtic as one of the clubs in contention to sign Bale, along with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Cardiff City, Rangers, Southampton and Newcastle United.
Could Celtic sign Bale in the summer?
It is safe to say that Bale joining Celtic is very, very unlikely. But we have seen strange things happen recently, with Aaron Ramsey’s January loan move to the Rangers being one of them.
Thus, never say never. Although, it does feel that if Bale was to sign a short-term contract with a team in the summer in order to stay in form ahead of the World Cup, a Welsh club might be a better option for him.
It remains to be seen how things turn out. While Bale has been nowhere near his best in recent years, he continues to perform for the Wales national team.