Tottenham Hotspur: Mauricio Pochettino welcomes Gareth Bale return talk after Football Leaks revelations

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino would welcome Gareth Bale back at White Hart Lane, following claims the club have the option to re-sign the player if he was to leave Real Madrid.

Documents published by Football Leaks disclosed confidential information over Bale's world-record move to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2013, including a clause that allows Spurs to try and hijack any deal for the Wales international, if they can match the offer made by another bidder.

The agreement specifies Real must notify Tottenham should another Premier League side see their bid for Bale accepted, and give the North Londoners 72 hours to decide whether they will match it.

When asked about the clause at his press conference ahead of 23 January's league clash with Crystal Palace, Pochettino said: "It is rumours but if we have the first option to sign him, why not? He is a great player and a player that can improve our squad."

According to the Sunday Times, Manchester United are ready to pay £90m ($127m) to bring Bale back to England.

Among the details also leaked were claims that Bale's move was indeed a world record fee, rather than the €91.5m – less than the fee paid for Cristiano Ronaldo – Real claim it is. The document also explains how Tottenham were instructed to not reveal the figures involved in the deal.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Jonathan Barnett, Bale's agent and co-owner of football agency Stellar Group, is "furious" with the details of the deal being made public. Real were insistent upon Tottenham concealing the figures involved in the move in order to maintain Ronaldo's status as the world's most expensive player.