George Burley will tell Gareth Bale he can become a first team regular in any side in England - providing he plays for Saints throughout 2007/08.

No sooner had this season ended than the inevitable speculation over 17-year-old Bale's has begun again.

The Welsh international left back, who has had such an impressive debut season, has just one year left to run on his contract.

If he decides he does not want to extend his present deal then Saints could well have no option other than to sell him to the highest bidder.

The alternative for the PLC board directors, who now have to plug a £6.5m hole in the finances caused by the lack of a parachute payment, is losing Bale for a nominal tribunal fee a year later.

Manchester United, Tottenham and Arsenal are all believed to be interested in Bale, who was offered a new St Mary's deal back in January.

The player also turned down the chance to move to Spurs and Sir Alex Ferguson has emerged as the favourite to sign the Cardiff-born starlet.

Now the campaign has ended, Burley will make speaking to Bale a top priority.

He said: "We spoke to Gareth about a contract and we said we'd leave it to the summer.

"We'll be speaking to him again and finding out exactly where his thoughts lie."

Burley has always maintained that Bale should see out his current contract at Saints for his own development.

And after overseeing his progress in recent months, Burley is more adamant than ever that he is one season away from being able to start on a regular basis for any team in the country.

"That's never changed," Burley said of his belief Bale should stay at Saints for at least another year.

"He's still only 17, he's 18 in July, and he's had an absolutely terrific season.

"The progress he's made as a player is phenomenal but he's still developing and still maturing.

"Another season here would take him to a situation where, if he decided to move, he could pretty much step into any team in the country as a first team regular."