LONDON - Just four years ago Gareth Bale was considered a jinx and a flop, and faced being offloaded on the cheap by Tottenham. Failing to live up to expectations, the disillusioned gangly teenager endured more than 1,500 minutes on the pitch across 28 months before finally featuring on a winning side in the Premier League for Tottenham. Fast forward to 2013 and the now-muscular, speedy 24-year-old Bale is one of European footballs most potent attacking forces and the most sought-after asset in the summer transfer window. He could also be on the verge of becoming the worlds most expensive footballer. Real Madrid appears to be leading the chase for Bale, who would be emulating Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham in leaving the Premier League to become the Spanish clubs latest Galactico. "Real Madrids fans will be purring at the thought of having possibly him and Ronaldo in the same team," said former Tottenham player and manager Glenn Hoddle. "They can go back and challenge the world again." To prize Bale away from north London, however, Madrid is likely to have to improve on the world-record fee of 93.9 million euros (then $131 million) it paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009. British and Spanish media have reported that Madrid has offered 100 million euros for Bale, although neither Tottenham nor Madrid has publicly commented on the bid. Although Tottenhams public posturing has seen a "not for sale" sign officially left dangling over Bale during the summer, it would be hard for the north London club to reject such a hefty wad of cash and retain a player agitating to join a team challenging for top titles. Because, for all the mesmerizing footwork on the ball, eye-catching goals from free kicks and defence-splitting surges, Bale doesnt have a single winners medal for show for his six years at Tottenham. Bale, who has not commented on the speculation, reported to training as usual at Tottenham on Wednesday, and Hoddle is among the many current and former players hoping he will be staying with Spurs for one more season. "I just sense that maybe he might go for the wrong reasons," said former Tottenham player and manager Glenn Hoddle. "If he wants to go just for football reasons I think it might be better in a years time or maybe two years time." It was in May 2007 that Tottenham paid just 5 million pounds (then $8 million) to bring the 17-year-old Bale from Southampton, the south-coast club then playing in the second tier. Although he scored three times in his first four starts, a series of injuries stymied his progress and he went on that frustrating run, becoming a symbol of poor results until emerging as a substitute 84 minutes into his 25th Premier League game — a 5-0 rout of Burnley. Since then, Bale has never looked back. Neither has Tottenham, which at one point was reported to have tried to use Bale as a make-weight in deals to bring in new players. After shaking off his substitutes role in January 2010, Bale began to consistently show the flair and pace that displaced left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto from the starting line-up. And, as the attacking side of Bales game began to flourish, then-manager Harry Reddknapp pushed Bale onto the left wing. Having helped to steer Tottenham into the Champions League for the first time in May 2010, Bale was rewarded with a lucrative new deal — the first of three successive annual contract upgrades. Bale announced himself to the world with two dazzling displays against Champions League holder Inter Milan in the group stage in the 2010-11 season, including a hat trick at the San Siro. As Tottenham fought off interest from rival teams, Bale was named the 2011 player of the year in England by his footballing peers. But Bale has begun to outgrow Tottenham, with the team failing to return to the Champions League despite his goal-scoring prowess and searing pace. His importance to the team was underscored last season by the fact his 21 leagues goals, many from being deployed in a more central position, helped win 22 points for Spurs, although they still finished a place outside of the top four. With his national team Wales unlikely to qualify for a major tournament, it is at club level where Bale will have to make his mark like compatriot Ryan Giggs. "He is such an exciting player, but more than that, he has a good attitude as well," Giggs said recently. "He can go far in the game." Named English footballs player of the year by his fellow professionals and journalists last season, Bale appears to be preparing the groundwork for the enhanced fame that a move to Madrid would bring. Earlier this year, he filed an application to trademark his goal celebration, a heart-shaped hand gesture he dedicates to his long-time girlfriend, to use on merchandise. But while Bale is the superstar at Tottenham, he could find himself in the shadow of Ronaldo in the Spanish capital if he didnt make an immediate impact. "When you go abroad the first four, five, six months could be difficult for him to regain that form," Hoddle said. Air Max2 Light Canada . -- Charlie Graham stopped 67 shots as the Belleville Bulls edged the visiting Guelph Storm 6-5 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. Nike Air Max Canada Online . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. http://www.clearanceairmaxcanada.com/air-max-180-canada-sale.html .J. -- Seven games into a disappointing season, New York Giants defensive catalyst Jason Pierre-Paul is getting the feeling hes back. Nike Air Max Tailwind 7 Canada . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Air Max 200 Canada . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. PITTSBURGH -- All Marc-Andre Fleury ever wants to do is give his team a chance to stay in the game.The Pittsburgh Penguins goalie did that and more on Thursday against the New York Islanders.Fleury had 31 of his 35 saves through two periods, keeping the game close and allowing Sidney Crosby to score the tiebreaking goal late in the third to lead the Penguins to a 4-2 victory over the Islanders.We were under a lot of pressure, we were on our heels and he made some huge saves that allowed us to keep the lead, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. He was terrific.Fleury faced just five shots in the third period while starting for the eighth straight game. Fleury won for the 19th time in his last 24 home starts and has given up two or fewer goals in five of the first six home games.I know the guys are trying hard, Fleury said. Im just trying to keep the score close and keep them ahead.Patric Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel also scored -- each getting his third of the season -- to help the defending champion Penguins win for the third time in four games and improve to 5-0-1 at home.Crosby, playing for the second straight game after missing the first six with a concussion, scored with 2:25 left as he caught a pass from Scott Wilson at the top of the crease and quickly turned to his forehand to put the puck behind Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak.Crosby, who also scored in his season debut on Tuesday, now has points in 10 straight regular season games dating back to last season.Kessel added a power-play goal to cap the scoring 32 seconds later.Travis Hamonic and Shane Prince scored for the Islanders, who fell to 0-3-0 on the road. Halak finished with 31 saves.Malkin broke a 1-1 tie with 7:12 left in the third as he took a pass from Kessel and pulled up ahead of Islanders defenseman Dennis Seidenberg before placing a shot between Halaks pads.Prince, playing for the first time after missing five games with a lower-body injury, tied it again with 4:22 remaining. Fleury left the net to play a shot into the zone but the puck caromed off the boards to Prince, who put it into an empty net.I felt bad because I shouldnt have come out of the net, Fleury said. If I wouldve stayed in the net, we wouldve been fine. I was happy to see Sid bury that one.Pittsburgh won three of four against the Islanders last season, the eighth time in nine years the Penguins won the season series.dddddddddddd The Islanders played the second half of a back-to-back after falling at home against Montreal on Wednesday.No one is going to feel sorry for us, Hamonic said. Frustrating result the past two games, but you move forward. We have to keep going. Thats all we can do.Hornqvist opened the scoring with a power-play goal 46 seconds into the game. Pittsburgh has scored a power-play goal in all six home games.Crosby, standing at the left post, set up Hornqvist on the opposite side during a slick passing sequence that also involved Kessel.Fleury kept it a one-goal game with three saves in succession on Nick Leddys point shot, Thomas Hickeys redirection and a blocker stop on Josh Bailey. Prince later hit the post to the left of a sprawled Fleury on a breakaway.The Islanders tied it late in the second period on their 28th shot. Hamonic finished a 2-on-1 from Prince, beating Fleury to the blocker side.Were giving up more shots and chances than I think were accustomed to and (Fleury) has been there to make that timely save for us, Sullivan said. It gives our guys a chance to grab ahold of ourselves and play the game the right way. I thought in the third period our guys responded.Game notes Sullivan didnt have an update on F Carl Hagelin, who left late in the third after taking a hit into the boards. .. G Matt Murray, who led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in June, dressed as Fleurys backup for the second straight game since returning from a broken hand sustained in last months World Cup of Hockey. ... Penguins D Kris Letang missed a fourth straight game with an upper-body injury, but he participated in Thursdays morning skate and is close to a return. ... Conor Sheary (eye) missed his fourth straight game for Pittsburgh, as did Derrick Pouliot (undisclosed). ... Islanders F Nikolay Kulemin missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. ... Eric Boulton (lower body), Ryan Pulock (lower body) and Mathew Barzal also sat for the Islanders.UP NEXTIslanders: Open a five-game homestand Sunday against Toronto on Sunday.Penguins: Begin a four-game road trip Saturday at Philadelphia. Pittsburghs next home game is Nov. 8 against Edmonton. ' ' '