Barcelona are launching a bid for Tottenham star Gareth Bale. The Telegraph says Barcelona's sporting board has made Bale its priority summer transfer target and will urge Pep Guardiola to sanction the Tottenham Hotspur player's signing.

The club's technical department, led by sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, considers the 22-year-old Bale to be the perfect long-term replacement for Eric Abidal, who underwent a liver transplant last week. The club's chief scout, Albert Valentín, checked out Bale's performance for Tottenham in the 3-1 win at Fulham last November, when the Welshman set up Aaron Lennon for Spurs' second goal.