Tottenham win battle for Bale but must fight for Berbatov

Manchester United had expressed an interest in the Wales teenager in January, with boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitting Spurs were ahead of them in the race to him.

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Spurs have agreed an initial fee of £5million which could be doubled depending on Bale's progress.

Spurs agreed a £6million fee which could rise to £10m, and the 17-year-old has been convinced by manager Martin Jol that he will get regular first-team football.

United were also interested in the Wales international, and his countryman Ryan Giggs was trying to persuade him to go to Old Trafford.

Southampton fought hard to keep him themselves, having offered Bale a new contract on Tuesday only to be told that he wanted to leave the St Mary's Stadium.

Spurs have been leading the chase for his signature since they agreed a fee with Southampton in January.

Bale, who was shown around the club's training ground in Chigwell at the time, rejected the chance to join them then because he wanted to help George Burley's side win promotion to the Premiership.

Southampton's defeat by Derby in the play-offs earlier this month ended their hopes of keeping Bale, who had only one year left on his contract, as well as playing in the top flight.

West Ham and Wales defender James Collins is convinced Bale can perform in the Premiership despite his lack of experience.

He said: "It's a fantastic move and Gareth's a fantastic player, I hope it all goes well for him. It's a massive leap from the Championship to the Premiership, but he came in at international level and did so well. He's so young and has plenty of time. He'll go on to be a star in the Premiership."

Jol has been desperate to sign Bale as he has not been happy with the left side of defence this season.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto, who joined from Lens for £3.5m last year, has struggled to adapt to life in England and failed to impress at left-back, while Young-Pyo Lee is not considered the long-term solution as he is now 30-years-old.

But Tottenham will attempt to fight off Manchester United's bid to sign Dimitar Berbatov by handing their star striker a massive wage rise.

Reports in Bulgaria suggest that United will offer £27.5million plus Louis Saha for the 26-year-old, who scored 23 goals in his first season in the Premiership.

But Spurs insist that Berbatov is not for sale and his agent Emil Dantchev has dismissed all talk of a move away from north London as "speculation". Tottenham also say they have no interest in the injury-prone Saha.

United's French striker started last season in top form following the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy to Real Madrid, but faded after Christmas and missed the end of season run-in and last weekend's FA Cup Final defeat by Chelsea.

Berbatov is away with the Bulgaria national team preparing for their European Championship qualifiers against Belarus, but is believed to have been offered improved terms by Spurs.

Already under contract at White Hart Lane until 2010, he is understood to be close to agreeing a new deal, which includes a two-year extension and a pay rise from £22,000 to £52,000-a-week.

Tottenham have already secured the long-term future of defender Michael Dawson this month and see Berbatov as crucial to their plans to break into the top four.

The new deal would make the Bulgarian the club's second-highest earner behind captain Ledley King.

Chairman Daniel Levy, who declared 'Tottenham are not a selling club' in his programme notes in the final game against Manchester City, also knows he will face a mass protest from the fans if Berbatov ends up at Old Trafford.