Dawson Confident Bale Will Reject United & Real Madrid Overtures This Summer

Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson doesn't believe Gareth Bale will have his head turned by Manchester United or Real Madrid this summer and is confident his teammate will remain at White Hart Lane.

The Welshman's name has rarely been out of the headlines this summer after a splendid campaign for Andre Villas-Boas' side last season that ended in disappointment as the club failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Premier League champions United have been touted as one club looking to take advantage of this with a record-breaking bid for the 23-year-old this summer, while new Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was unable to deny suggestions Bale remains one of the club's primary targets this summer.

Dawson, who has witnessed former Tottenham stars Dimitar Berbatov and Luka Modric lured from north London to Old Trafford and the Bernabeu in the past, is unconcerned by persistent speculation however.

"All you can do is concentrate individually as a team," Dawson told Sky Sports News.

"Gaz is a Tottenham player and the manager has come out and said he's staying, and that's great news.

"To do what Gaz did last year was sensational, with some of the goals he scored and the points he won for us. He helped us to get to 72 points and I'm sure he'll be doing that again next year.

"Gaz is a great lad, he keeps his head down and the way he has been playing, he is going to have speculation. His performances in recent years have been brilliant and that's what happens.

"He'll concentrate and do what he does for Tottenham, and hopefully keep scoring goals."

Bale helped fire Tottenham towards the top four of the Premier League last season with his goals as Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe struggled to maintain consistency in front of goal, something which Villas-Boas is keen to address this summer.

But having already missed out on two targets in David Villa, who opted for a move to Atletico Madrid, and Christian Benteke who signed a new contract with Aston Villa last week, his options are diminishing.

Roberto Soldado of Valencia would now appear to be on the radar; with his 30 goals last season for Los Che suggesting he could certainly ease the goal scoring burden on the talismanic Bale.