Real Madrid tempt Man Utd with new, low-cost Gareth Bale transfer fee
Manchester United could be given the chance to sign Gareth Bale for just £18m, according to reports in Spain.
Bale has fallen down the pecking order in the past couple of years at Real Madrid. The Wales winger has spoken out about his frustration at being frozen out of the team and denied the chance to leave.
The former Tottenham star was close to leaving the club for China in 2019, but that deal fell through. Now, a return to the Premier League could be on the cards.
Reports emerged recently suggesting Man Utd had reignited their interest in Bale. The Red Devils rivalled Madrid for his signature back in 2013, before his then-record move to the Bernabeu.
However, if he is to leave Madrid before the transfer window closes, it could be for a significantly lower fee than the £86m they originally paid for him.
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real are willing to sell Bale for just £18m. That’s because they are desperate to get his £15m-per-season wages off the books.
Bale could take a pay cut to seal a return to the Premier League, where United have identified him as an alternative to their main target, Jadon Sancho.
The financial aspects of a deal for the Dortmund winger would be much larger than one for Bale, although the Welshman is more than 10 years Sancho’s senior.
United are yet to make a formal approach for Bale, although Madrid are hoping they will. In fact, Mundo Deportivo claim a move to United is “more and more strongly” possible for Bale.
With wages still an obstacle, the report suggests Madrid could pay Bale’s salary for one of the two years left on his contract at the Bernabeu, even if he has left them by then.
However, the La Liga champions aren’t keen on that scenario. Therefore, they are awaiting an offer from someone willing to invest in Bale – hoping United will be.
Man Utd urged to sign Bale
One pundit who thinks United should sign Bale is Tim Sherwood – who says they would “flourish” if they added the Welshman and Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.
“He needs to be in the Premier League again and start playing football,” Sherwood told Sky Sports of Bale.
“I think he’s got a lot to offer and if he goes to a huge club like Manchester United, I think he’ll flourish for a couple of seasons.”