Become a legend at Spurs, Jol tells Bale

Fulham manager Martin Jol has urged Gareth Bale to remain at Tottenham and become a White Hart Lane legend.

Jol was in charge at Spurs when Bale joined from Southampton and will be reunited with the player when he takes his Fulham side to face Andre Villas-Boas' team in north London tonight.

Bale, who will return to the Spurs line-up after missing the Europa League defeat by Inter Milan, is expected to be the subject of big-money offers from several of Europe's top clubs in the close-season.

But his former manager believes the Wales midfielder's interests would be best served by remaining with Spurs. "I saw Bale at Southampton when he was 15, we followed him and other people came in but I had a few words with his mum to convince him to come to Spurs," Jol said.

"With hindsight it's very satisfying. He's probably the best player in the Premier League at the moment and he shows it week in, week out. Hopefully for the league and for Spurs he will stay because I think it's a very good club for him. But whatever he decides to do he will have a big future."

Tottenham will go into the meeting with Fulham on the back of an unconvincing display in the San Siro that almost cost them a place in the Europa League quarter-finals.