Manchester United’ overwhelming start to the season has been put off by their unconvincing performance in the last few matches. Jose Mourinho’s side have failed to maintain their strong display as they lost to Chelsea in the Premier League, which dealt a huge blow to their title credentials.
United spent millions in the summer transfer market but results haven’t been satisfying for them and Mourinho might use the January transfer window to further strengthen his team.
United have reportedly renewed their interest in Gareth Bale. The Real Madrid winger has struggled with various injuries since he left Tottenham Hotspur to join the Spanish club back in 2013 in a staggering £85million deal.
Manchester United have always maintained a keen interest in the Welshman and they have been linked to the player in the last few transfer windows on a regular basis. Real Madrid have grown frustrated with his injury issues and despite his quality, they might be ready to offload the player at last.
Mourinho is an avid admirer of the former Spurs player and might jump in to work with the 28-year-old. Bale signed a new contract last year, which also has a mammoth £1bn release clause. However, if a club comes calling, the Spanish club might be ready to do business for a much lesser amount (obviously!).
Bale currently earns almost £350,000-a-week after tax, which shouldn’t be the problem for Manchester United, as the 13-time Premier League champions do have the financial structure to afford his wage. He also has an eye for a return to his former club Tottenham Hotspur, but chairman Daniel Levy has imposed a very strict wage structure at the club and is unlikely to break the rule.
So the stage is set and United just have to get the ball rolling with a handsome bid in January. Given the player’s stature and contract length, it would take at least an offer of £100m to tempt Los Merengues to part their ways with the Welsh wizard.
Mourinho prioritised the signing of a winger but United CEO Ed Woodward failed to bring one of Ivan Perisic or Bale into the club. The way Romelu Lukaku plays, the need of a winger has grown stronger and if Bales does arrive, United’s chances of landing Bale will get a huge boost.
Mourinho’s desire to work with the player is not unknown. He made his intentions pretty clear when the two sides faced each other in the European Super Cup. “If he’s not in the club’s plans, I would try to be waiting for him on the other side and be fighting with the other coaches who would like to have him on their team”.
