Barca Give Up On Bale Chase - Report

Spanish media are claiming that Tottenham have succeeded in keeping hold of star winger Gareth Bale, with Spurs refusing to even negotiate with Barcelona over any possible deal.

Marca is reporting that the north London side have compared selling Bale to Real Madrid selling Cristiano Ronaldo, and with Barcelona having to be somewhat frugal in their spending this summer, the Catalan side won't be willing to pay the record high price that Spurs are demanding to even talk about an exit for the star.

Tottenham showed last summer in the case of Luka Modric that they were not willing to be seen as a selling club, with the Croatia international having a transfer request to move to Chelsea turned down, along with a £40 million deadline day bid from the club.

And as Tottenham sit above Chelsea in the Premier League table, Modric now insists he's glad he stayed in White Hart Lane, and Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has continually said that the club don't need to sell players to make money.

This season Spurs will take a big hit to their revenues, after profiting around £30 million for being in the Champions League in 2010-2011.

But with Tottenham currently sitting at third in the Premier League table, and seven points ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea in fourth and fifth place respectively, the club could be in the money again if they hold onto their standing and finish in the top four.

And as Bale extended his contract until 2014 with the club, Tottenham needn't worry about the possibility of losing money with his contract running down.

Now Barcelona will reportedly turn their attentions to Thiago Silva as a top summer target. The defender will also be an expensive ask from AC Milan, though the club might be more willing to speak about the possibility of a sale than Tottenham.

The match that made Barca take notice of Gareth Bale - AC Milan v Tottenham: