FIVE players to help Chelsea retain their Premier League crown

Gareth Bale

Within two years, Bale has gone from being the world’s most expensive footballer to being booed by Real Madrid fans in what has proven a mixed second season in the Spanish capital.

Consequence of the vitriol, speculation has mounted that a return to England is on the cards, with Chelsea reportedly lining up a £70 million swoop for the Welshman – who fetched £86m when joining Los Blancos from Tottenham in 2013.

It remains to be seen how realistic this rumour is, but Chelsea have the finances and star power to attract such a high-profile figure and signing him would come as a huge blow to their rivals’ chances of knocking the Blues off their perch in the summer.