Bale

It is thought Malaysian businessman Tan has little interest in selling Cardiff – the club he has invested £200m-plus into since buying in 2010.

Bale recently confirmed it would be “a dream come true” to purchase the Bluebirds, outlining his desire to take the club to the Premier League.

Speaking to Sky Sports in June, he said: “We’ve been speaking about it (a takeover), trying to engage with Cardiff but more news will come out on that in the future but hopefully we can get something done.”

The 35-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Cardiff City Stadium prior to joining Los Angeles in the summer of 2022.

Bale went on to help the Major League Soccer side win the MLS Cup by scoring a last-minute equaliser in extra time of the final as LA went on to beat Philadelphia Union on penalties.

He featured in each of his country’s group stage matches against the USA, Iran and England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar before retiring from football in January 2023.

Cardiff – now led by former Manchester City Elite Development Squad boss Brian Barry-Murphy – are preparing for a first campaign in the third tier since 2002-03 having finished bottom of the Championship last season.

The Bluebirds have not commented on the Bale-led consortium’s approaches to buy the club.

Former Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale is part of a US-based consortium’s attempt to take over League One club Plymouth Argyle.

Talks with the private equity firm are said to be at an early stage.

Plymouth owner Simon Hallett said last month that a previous agreement to sell a stake in the club had fallen through.

Bale would be following the lead of former Real Madrid team-mate Luka Modric, who was part of group that acquired control of Swansea in April.

The Croatia midfielder has taken on a minority stake with the stated aim of generating worldwide attention on the Welsh club.

Legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady previously became part of the new Birmingham City’s ownership group, while Wrexham have generated huge amounts of revenue from publicity attached to their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Plymouth were relegated to the third tier last season after an ill-fated return to the Championship.

The ambitious pre-season appointment of Wayne Rooney as manager did not work and his replacement Miron Muslic resigned at the end of the season and joined German club Schalke.

Former Manchester United midfielder and Watford boss Tom Cleverley was appointed as manager on 13 June.

It is not known what role, if any, five-time Champions League winner Bale will have at Plymouth should the planned takeover succeed.

The former Southampton and Tottenham man, 35, retired from playing in 2023.