Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas has admitted that it would be "impossible" for winger Gareth Bale to leave the club in the January transfer window.

The Wales international has been linked once again to Real Madrid and the 23-year-old has been open about a future move to Spain. However, Villas-Boas is determined to keep hold of his star player.

"It is completely impossible he will leave in January," the Daily Mail quotes Villas-Boas as saying. "The transfer window always gives you the opportunity to strengthen your squad.

"Teams will lose players to African Cup of Nations, but there is a chance to strengthen a little bit. Ideally you'd prefer to avoid it. It's for us, we should plan our season, stick to players we see in summer, define our season in our season plan and go on from there."

Meanwhile, Spurs are preparing to take on Stoke City this weekend.