Tottenham still have one massive decision to make on Gareth Bale

Tottenham are excited at the prospects of Gareth Bale’s return to the club, but now Jose Mourinho must figure out where to deploy the Welsh star.

Gareth Bale’s sensational return to Tottenham Hotspur is dominating the football landscape at the moment. Signing him is on only the beginning of the challenge for Spurs. Jose Mourinho must think long and hard about where to deploy Bale in his starting XI.

That decision could easily dictate whether Bale’s return to North London is judged to be a massive success or devastating failure. He clearly isn’t the same player that he was when he left Tottenham seven years ago. He returns to Spurs as a polished veteran who understands the highs and lows of being a global superstar.

Obviously, Mourinho is going to deploy Bale as an attacking player as some sort. He isn’t going to go back to playing left back as he did when he first arrived at Tottenham from Southampton as a fresh-faced 17-year-old.

The interesting question is exactly what sort of attacker Mourinho envisions Bale becoming at this stage of his career. The majority of his playing time at Real Madrid was enjoyed on the wing. The easiest solution for Tottenham would be to place him out on the right flank. A front-three of Harry Kane, Heung-Min Son and Bale could rival Liverpool as one of the most potent attacks in the Premier League.

The only problem is that Tottenham haven’t deployed a three-man front very often under Mourinho. He’s typically favored a 4-2-3-1 formation with three attacking midfielders supporting Kane. Bale could simply slide back and play on the right of that attacking midfield trio.

There is, however, a more interesting option available to Mourinho. The club have lacked a No. 10 capable of unlocking opposing defenses ever since selling Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan last winter. Both Dele Alli and Giovani Lo Celso have enjoyed some success picking up that mantle from the talented Dane, but neither has seized the position for their own.

Mourinho will be sorely tempted to give Bale an opportunity to grow into the club’s No. 10 this season. Playing him through the middle would lessen the need for the 31-year-old to sprint down the wing for long stretches of the season. It would also give Bale more consistent time on the ball.

That’s arguably going to be his best asset for Tottenham this go-around. Spurs supporters shouldn’t expect to see droves of the marauding runs that made him a fan favorite before. Instead, his ability to punish opponents with his devastating shots from distance should be the trademark of his second tour of duty with the club.

Today, Tottenham fans can celebrate the reality that Gareth Bale has left Real Madrid and is on his way back home. It’s up to Mourinho to consider the more pressing issue of how to make sure his return becomes a tactical success.