Last updated on .From the section Football

Gareth Bale admits he will consider his future at Tottenham if they fail to reach next season's Champions League.

After spending much of the season in contention for the Premier League title, Spurs have fallen to fifth after winning just three of 14 games.

Tottenham need to finish in the top four to have a chance of qualifying.

The left-sided midfielder told BBC's Football Focus: "If we don't [qualify for the Champions League], I have to discuss what's best for myself."

Spurs are currently three points behind fourth-placed Newcastle but both could still miss out if sixth-placed Chelsea either catch them or win the Champions League.

Tottenham Hotspur run-in 29 Apr Blackburn (h) 2 May Bolton (a) 6 May Aston Villa (a) 13 May Fulham (h) Football fixtures - day by day

Bale, 22, who joined Tottenham as a 17-year-old from Southampton in 2007, has been linked to some of Europe's top clubs in the past two seasons, including Barcelona external-link and Inter Milan. external-link

He said the interest was "flattering" but that he was focused on helping Tottenham achieve Champions League football again.

The Wales international signed a new deal committing him to White Hart Lane until 2015 during Tottenham's solitary Champions League campaign.

That run, in the 2010-11 season, ended in a 5-0 quarter-final defeat by Real Madrid.

"I had a taste last season and thoroughly enjoyed it," Bale added. "Everyone wants to test themselves against the best players in world.

"I am still a Tottenham player and need to keep performing for the team."

Bale facts 2005-07: Southampton

Appearances: 45

Goals: 5

2007-present: Tottenham

Appearances: 156

Goals: 29

Tottenham play three of the Premier League's bottom six in their four remaining games and Bale is hopeful they can recover their form from earlier in the season.

They were beaten 1-0 by relegation-threatened QPR last weekend and Bale said: "Hopefully our luck will change.

"We know how difficult it is when a team is fighting relegation but we've got the quality in the dressing room and if we play to our best we know we'll win."