Tottenham attempted to insert a clause in their Gareth Bale transfer to prevent Real Madrid from selling one of four players to England clubs.

Mesut Özil, Ángel di María and Karim Benzema were of interest to Arsenal, while Manchester United tried to sign Fábio Coentrão.

Spurs wanted Real to hold off allowing any of those players to come to England until this summer, but they were unable to reach an agreement.

Özil was eventually sold to Arsenal.