Barcelona are ready to drop their challenge to Real Madrid in the battle for Tottenham superstar Gareth Bale. The Sunday Mirror says Barca are reluctant to enter into an auction over any transfer fee or wages, and that hands a key advantage to Real, who are willing to pay up to £40million and add in £150,000-a-week wages to reunite Bale with his former Spurs team-mate Luka Modric.

Real are confident of landing Bale after ­striking a sporting partnership with Tottenham as part of the Modric deal.

Barca will use similar tactics as they employed to land Cesc Fabregas from ­Arsenal, but, unlike the Spaniard, Bale shares no historic affinity with the club.

Manchester City and Chelsea will also enter the bidding for Bale, but they ­realise Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will look to sell the 23-year-old Wales international abroad if he is forced to concede defeat.