Townsend thinks Mourinho will drop one Tottenham player, says he doesn’t fancy him

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Andy Townsend has told Optus Sport’s The Midweek Preview that he thinks Tottenham Hotspur will drop Gareth Bale ahead of Thursday night’s clash against Chelsea – claiming the Spurs manager does not fancy the Real Madrid loanee.

Bale, 31, has managed just four goals in 15 league and cup appearances for Tottenham this season – and was handed just his second Spurs start on Sunday as the North London club suffered a 1-0 defeat to Brighton on the south coast.

He was withdrawn after an hour after failing to have any kind of impact and his replacement, Carlos Vinicius, was much more effective – coming closest with a superb swivel and shot on the edge of the penalty area, with Robert Sanchez saved well.

Townsend has claimed that Mourinho needs mobility up top if Tottenham are to beat Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea on Thursday night – and thinks for that reason, Bale will be dropped. He also claims Mourinho has not bought into the Bale idea.

“If Spurs are going to beat Chelsea, they are going to need tons of mobility and energy at the top of the field,” Townsend said. “At the moment, Gareth cannot give them that, he is just not ready to do that. I don’t think he will start.

“I don’t think Jose really fancies this Gareth Bale idea, I don’t think he really buys into it. Mourinho will be mindful that someone needs to track Marcos Alonso, Bale won’t want to be doing that. I don’t think he will start Bale.”

TBR’s view – Bale is in danger of returning to Real Madrid

While the 83-time international is set to stay at Spurs until the summer, does he extend his contract at Spurs? Daniel Levy, who is a big fan of Bale, included the option for a second season-long loan at Spurs in the loan deal he signed last summer.

A second season on loan would see Bale remain at Spurs until his Madrid contract expires, which may then see him sign permanently for Spurs – at least, that is what some fans hoped when he initially joined on loan.

But things have not worked out like that. If Bale fails to improve his form and get back to even half the Bale we saw at Madrid and during his first Spurs spell, then he will return to Madrid in the summer.