Gareth Bale: Wales captain's representatives hold talks with Cardiff City

As they step up their efforts to sign the out-of-contract Wales captain, they have held talks with his representatives.

Bale is available on a free transfer.

According to his representatives, they are in talks with Mehmet Dalman ofCardiff.

Bale's agents are still in talks with a lot of other clubs.

Bale has been linked with a return to Spurs and a move to a MLS team in the US.

It might seem crazy for a man with a world-record fee to join Real Madrid to drop down to the Championship.

Wales will be playing in the World Cup for the first time in more than 50 years, and Bale is focused on leading the team.

Bale would be able to work closely with Wales' medical and fitness staff if the Football Association of Wales shared a training ground with the city.

Bale's family still live in the Welsh capital and there is the theory that he might be able to be more careful with the games he plays for his club in order to get ready for the finals.

The weekly wage bill of the entire first-team squad was less than that of Bale.

Money isn't the most important factor when it comes to Wales' World Cup campaign, according to people close to the forward.