LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Gareth Bale of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland at White Hart Lane on May 19, 2013 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images) (2013 Getty Images)
Lionel Messi may be the best soccer player in the world, but Gareth Bale may soon be the most expensive.
After a summer of speculation, sources are confirming a record breaking deal between the Welsh player and Spanish club, Real Madrid, which could materialize this week.
In exchange for Bale, the Spanish club team will pay around $134 million in cash to his English Premier League team, Tottenham Hotspur, Yahoo Sports reported.
The contract is expected to be a a six-year deal, worth around $15 million annually.
And, if it is finalized, the lump total sum would break the current record $124.6 million transfer fee that Real Madrid spent on Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
A special stage has been erected at Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium for the unveiling, with the Spanish press saying Bale is likely to be introduced as a new member of the squad at a press conference on Tuesday.
After FC Barcelona secured Brazilian superstar Neymar to join their roster alongside Messi, Madrid knew it had to react by spending big.
With the threat of Barca always breathing down their neck, Madrid hopes the accusation of the 24-year-old star will enhance its push for the La Liga title as well as the Champions League crown.
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