According to the Independent, there is still a chance that Gareth Bale will complete a move to Manchester United this summer, despite Real Madrid’s public declaration to the contrary.
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The source report that despite the Spanish giants’ insistence that the Welshman is not for sale, there is still a chance that he will move to Old Trafford when the transfer window opens.
The revelation opens the door to the possibility of the former Tottenham Hotspur man—who broke the world transfer record when he moved to the Bernabeu in 2013—playing some part in the move to take David De Gea to Real.
It is little secret that the ten-time Champions League winners are keen on the Spain goalkeeper [via the Telegraph], who they see as the natural successor to Iker Casillas.
The 33-year-old stopper is a legendary figure at the club, but having agreed to leave the club [via Eurosport], Rafael Benitez’s attempts to sign De Gea may be set to intensify over the coming months.
Unless United see current backup stopper Victor Valdes as a viable replacement for his 24-year-old compatriot, Louis van Gaal is likely to be in the market for a new keeper this summer, with the likes of Hugo Lloris [Goal] and Petr Cech [Manchester Evening News] linked with a move to Old Trafford.
However, the Dutch coach is also believed to be keen to improve his offensive options.
The meagre goal-scoring contribution of the likes of Radamel Falcao, Robin van Persie, Angel Di Maria and Wayne Rooney Is set to be even further depleted this summer.
Falcao has already left the club, while van Persie [Daily Star] and Di Maria [Express] have been heavily linked with an exit from the club.
United have already acquired Dutch forward Memphis Depay, but they will surely see 25-year-old Bale as the kind of talent around whom they could build their side.
Despite coming in for criticism from Real fans over the last season, the Welshman remains an irresistible talent and his 13-goal season suggests that he would find the love from the United fans that has not been forthcoming in Madrid.
Karim Benzema has been mooted as another potential recruit from Real who could solve the Red Devils’ offensive deficiency [Metro], while the club have already been rebuffed in their attempts to recruit French international centre-back Rafael Varane [Telegraph].