Can Spurs keep hold of superstar Gareth Bale?

Inter Milan 4 Spurs 3. After being beaten by Inter Milan, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp knows he has a problem on his hands - how can he hang on to Gareth Bale after the Welsh wizard announced himself on the European stage with an incredible second-half hat-trick?

The 21-year-old scored three magnificent goals, including one from a run that began in his own half, as Spurs mounted a stirring comeback against the Champions League holders. Anyone who was not previously aware of Bale's talents now certainly is, and the offers from Europe's biggest clubs are sure to come flooding in when the transfer window opens in January.

Spurs appeared dead and buried as they trailed 4-0 at half time having been reduced to ten men, but Bale produced a second half performance that ranks alongside anything seen in the Champions League.

Who knows what could have happened at the San Siro had Spurs not spent the opening 45 minutes shooting themselves in the foot.

The game began badly for Spurs when Inter veteran Javier Zanetti rounded off a lovely passing move in just the second minute to make it 1-0. Things got even worse six minutes later when keeper Heurelho Gomes was shown a red card when he brought down Jonathan Biabiany in the box.

Samuel Eto'o made no mistake from the spot and Carlo Cudicini's first act as replacement keeper was to pick the ball out of the net. He was doing that once again after 14 minutes when Dejan Stankovic scored from 18 yards.

A fourth goal came after 35 minutes when Eto'o fired home after getting the better of William Gallas and it seemed as though Spurs could be facing utter humiliation.

Redknapp, though, obviously instilled some pride in his team during half time and they looked more resolute after the break, but it still took something special to get them on the scoresheet. It came after 52 minutes when Bale collected the ball in his own half and charged at the Inter defence, leaving defenders in his wake, and burst into the box to fire past a bewildered Julio Cesar.

Bale repeated the trick, albeit after a slightly less extravagant run, as the clock hit 90 minutes and a minute later, in injury time, he popped up in the Inter box yet again to lash home a third and leave both sets of fans gaping.

Inter saw out the last few seconds, but must have been wondering how they let a 4-0 lead against ten men slip to 4-3.

Afterwards, Redknapp reflected on his defensive problems but was more concerned about making it clear Bale was not for sale. "He's a player that we hope to build a team around. There's no way that we would or should contemplate selling him at the moment, certainly not in the near future," he said.

His will is sure to be tested next year now that Bale has well and truly arrived. ·