Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has refused to deny he has had a bid for Saints teenage sensation Gareth Bale accepted - and that he will give the player and his family "all the time in the world" to make up his mind on the proposed move.

Sources close to the player have suggested he will spurn the chance to join Tottenham and wait until the summer, when it is widely expected that Manchester United and other big clubs will renew their interest.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admitted at the weekend that Tottenham had outbid them for the gifted 17-year-old and claimed they would be dropping out of the race at this stage.

But United may yet table one last improved offer before tomorrow night's transfer window deadline with the lure for Saints being Bale staying at St Mary's on loan until the end of the season.

Saints boss George Burley has repeatedly insisted that £10m-rated Bale will not be leaving St Mary's in January - but Levy says he won't rush Bale into any big decision.

Asked whether a fee had been agreed with Saints, Levy replied: "When you are trying to attract a 17-year-old it is a very big decision for him and his family and we are giving all the time in the world for them to make it.

"January is always a difficult time to buy players and certainly our philosophy here is to end the window, whether it be January or the summer, in a better position than we started."

This is the first time Tottenham have confirmed their interest in Wales' youngest ever player as Levy called for fans' patience in their attempts to sign him out of United's clutches.

The White Hart Lane outfit traditionally tend to leave their business until late in the transfer windows - witness their £2m signing of Saints striker Grzegorz Rasiak from Derby in the closing hours of the 2005 summer window.

"Lots of activity often happens in the last couple of days in the window," Levy added.

Bale has become the hottest property in English football in recent weeks but Burley has been unfazed by all the talk of a big-money exit.

"There has been interest but no matter what, wherever was going to pay £50m or £60m Gareth was going to be until the end of the season and that's where we are.

"At some point Gareth will leave and things will be agreed but the key I feel is that Gareth needs the rest of this season and next.

"We've agreed with Gareth and his parents that he'll certainly be here for the rest of this season and I would like him to stay another one so we'll take it from there in the summer.

"We have a big week coming up with two crucial home games Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow night and Derby on Saturday and we are concentrating fully on that."