Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale has already agreed personal terms with Manchester United with a view to joining the club during the summer transfer window, Spanish publication Don Balon has claimed today.
The Wales international has struggled for regular starts at Los Blancos with manager Santiago Solari at the helm, and this has got him thinking about his future, considering his shrewd relationship with the club’s faithful.
According to Don Balon, the former Tottenham Hotspur ace is said to have agreed terms regarding a contract with the Red Devils, who are prepared to offer as much as £63m to lure him from the Spanish capital.
However, the reigning European champions are said to want at least £103m for the transfer and this could bring about a dispute with the Welshman, who may threaten to sit out his contract, if the move is denied.
Meanwhile, a separate report from The Manchester Evening News on the same story claims that Bale has already bought himself a new house in Manchester, thus giving a clear indication regarding his summer plans.
Opinion:
United have no doubt been on the trail of Gareth Bale over the years but it would be surprising if they are interested in him at the current point of time, given his injury troubles over the past couple of campaigns.
Moreover, Bale would be turning 30 in three months’ time and the £63m outlay for his signature seems doubtful, considering United had played hardball for a lesser fee for Inter’s Ivan Perisic in the summer of 2017.
Still, the hierarchy may have changed their stance but the move could hamper the development of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford on the wings, given Bale would rightfully replace at least one of them in the XI.
Bale has managed just seven goals and two assists in the Spanish La Liga this term and such statistics have no doubt frustrated the club’s supporters, given he was earmarked as the leader of the club’s attack following Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit last summer.
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