Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale could be tempted by a return to the Premier League with Manchester United this summer, should Zinedine Zidane remain at the helm of the European champions, The Mirror reports.
Bale, 28, has struggled with a series of injuries over the past 20 months, and this has hampered his chances of earning regular gametime with the La Liga holders. The Wales international has proved his fitness since the turn of the year, but Zidane has still taken the opportunity to bench him every now and then with likes of Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez offered a run in the starting lineup.
According to The Mirror, Bale could seriously consider a switch to Old Trafford this summer, if Los Blancos decide against a change of management. Zidane has experienced an average season by his standards as the club’s head coach but Los Blancos are still in the hunt for a record-third straight Champions League crown.
Should Zidane stay put, The Mirror suggests that Jose Mourinho could get the opportunity of a reunion with Bale during the summer, though United would still have to pay up a club-record fee of around £90m, whilst making the Welshman, the highest-paid player in the division.
The move appeared promising for United nine months ago, but at the present point, the club’s interest in the attacker may have cooled, due to the signing of Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal. The Chilean has not made a bright start to his United career since his winter switch, but the 29-year-old has the ability to turn things around, once he has a full pre-season under his belt.
Meanwhile, United boss Mourinho has placed his focus on bolstering other areas of the field after citing last month that he does not intend on strengthening the club’s forward options during the 2018 summer transfer window.
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