MANCHESTER UNITED have been stunned by Tottenham Hotspur's £70m valuation of star man Gareth Bale.
Speculation continues to increase surrounding the long-term future of Spurs winger Bale, who is attracting interest from a number of big European clubs.
Manchester United have been linked with a move for the Welsh international, but according to Goal.com the Red Devils were taken aback by Tottenham's £70m price-tag for Bale.
Reports suggest United's outgoing chief executive David Gill approached Spurs chairman Daniel Levy over a potential move for the 23-year-old, which was met with short shrift.
The North London outfit hope to tie Bale down to a new five-year-deal and are willing to double his weekly salary from £75,000 to around £150,000.
Bale is thought to be open to the idea of staying in the capital - which allows him to regularly visit his family in Wales - as long as Tottenham qualify for next season's Champions League.
Having previously expressed an interest in playing abroad, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also been linked with the forward, who may also be shocked to hear of Spurs' valuation.
The highest transfer fee ever recorded was the £80m Madrid paid to sign United striker Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, while a £70m move for Bale would come close to that.
Spurs saw a glimpse of what life might be like without Bale last night as they laboured to Europa League progression against Inter Milan, with the wide-man serving a suspension.
Villas-Boas' side lost 4-1 on the night but went through on away goals.