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Gareth Bale returns to Tottenham for pre-season training today (Monday) - and David Villa could follow as early as this week.

The Barcelona striker has reached an agreement in principle with Spurs and it is now down to the two clubs to agree a fee.

Tottenham’s offer to Barca, however, has not yet met the £8.6million asking price that the Spanish champions are demanding.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy believes he can drive the price down as Barca want to get Villa off the wage bill now that he has been deemed surplus to requirements.

Barca do not want to find themselves committed to paying Villa’s wages next season, around £110,000-a-week, when he would simply allowed to leave on a free when his contract expires next May.

(Image: Ronald Martinez)

Meanwhile Bale is among the first batch of players arriving on Monday for pre-season training.

The second batch, players that have been involved in internationals immediately after the season’s end, return next week.

(Image: Reuters)

Paulinho, given an extended rest after winning the Confederations Cup with Brazil, admitted after signing for Spurs on Saturday that he is looking forward to playing with the “big players” at White Hart Lane.

The £17million midfielder said: “In Brazil we watch a lot of Premier League matches. Spurs have some big players. i hope to work with them towards new successes. “

Bale’s arrival comes as Tottenham plan to unveil their new kit this week. Last week Real Madrid appeared to wave the white flag over plans to sign the four-time Footballer of the Year with Tottenham adamant that no amount of money will convince them to sell this summer.

Ironically, however, Spurs are keen on Madrid winger Jese Rodriguez who scored 22 goals for the club’s B team last season.

Jese went on to become one of the stars of this summer’s Under-20 World Cup and has a year left on his contract.

With 12 months left on his contract, he has hinted he is ready to quit the Bernebeu in search of first-team action.

He said: “I want to play, and I don’t know if I’ll get many minutes in the Real Madrid first team.

“I don’t know what the club wants with me. I assume they will want to offer me a renewal but I don’t know what I will do. I’m not going to lie about it.”