Bale never contemplated Spurs exit

Tottenham winger Gareth Bale has admitted he never thought about leaving the club over the transfer window.

The Welshman put in a number of superb displays during Spurs' maiden Champions League campaign and was heavily linked with the White Hart Lane exit as top clubs around Europe took notice.

Any speculation linking him with a big-money move was put to rest in March when the 22-year-old signed a new four-and-a-half year deal with the North London outfit.

And while team-mate Luka Modric was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea until the end of August, manager Harry Redknapp had no such concerns with Bale, who he believes is at the perfect club to fulfill his potential.

"I never really thought about leaving Tottenham in the summer. I just signed a new deal and I'm enjoying my football," Bale told Sky Sports News.

"I'm playing well and I'm playing regularly. The main thing for me, I'm still young, is that I want to be playing week in, week out and getting better, and I'm still at an age where I can keep improving."

Bale has admitted that the presence of Redknapp in the dugout at White Hart Lane convinced him to prolong his stay at Tottenham.

"He lets all the players express themselves, and for a manager to give you that kind of licence there is nothing better," he added.