Spurs sold Bale for £86m and replaced him with a kid

Spurs sold Bale for £86m and replaced him with a kid

Real Madrid have yet to come knocking with an £86million cheque, but there are distinct echoes of Gareth Bale about the way Andros Townsend has taken the game by storm for club and country this season.

Tottenham’s world record fee for Bale was never likely to burn a hole in their pocket, and their subsequent recruitment drive took them to all corners of the globe, as they spent virtually every penny on Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Vlad Chiriches.

The 24-year old was always going to be some act to follow, and it’s little wonder no expense was spared in a worldwide quest to replace him. The answer may have been on their own doorstep all along, however, after the dramatic development of Academy kid Townsend over the past couple of months.

Spot the difference: Andros Townsend (left) has shown glimpses of ex-Tottenham winger Gareth Bale

Pretender to the crown: Andros Townsend and Gareth Bale's vital stats

His emergence as pretender to Bale’s crown was never more evident than at Wembley last Tuesday, when he turned in a second successive eye-catching England performance, with a place at the World Cup finals at stake. The way he rattled the bar from outside the area was reminiscent of Bale at his most menacing, as was the burst of pace that scorched the Wembley turf and left his marker trailing midway through the second half.

So, how does the 22-year old from Chingford compare with world-beater Bale, and what are his prospects of emulating Real’s summer signing as the most potent attacking weapon in the Barclays Premier League? Here’s a look at how the two measure up, with some statistical assistance from Opta.