Manchester United are prepared to make a £75million move for Gareth Bale this month, encouraged by signals from the Real Madrid star’s camp that he is ready to return to the Premier League.
Bale’s future at the Bernabeu has been thrown into doubt following the decision of Real president Florentino Perez to axe head coach Rafa Benitez after seven months in charge.
That has alerted United who are weighing up a renewed effort to sign Bale, having maintained a close interest in the 26-year-old since he moved to Spain from Tottenham for a world record £86million in 2013.
Real have received enquiries about Bale from Old Trafford in every transfer window since then, and United will try again this month despite accepting that they might have a better chance in the summer.
Manchester City and Chelsea are the only other English clubs that could afford his wages of £300,000 a week, but Bale is understood to favour a move to United if he returns to England.
Ryan Giggs is one of his boyhood heroes and United believe their assistant manager, who is next in line to succeed Louis van Gaal, could be a key figure in attracting his fellow Welshman to Old Trafford.
New Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane admitted on Tuesday that Bale is unhappy over Benitez’s sacking but vowed to make the player feel wanted at the club.
‘Gareth was disappointed with the sacking of Rafa because he was an important coach for him, but I will treat him the same way Rafa did,’ said Zidane.
‘He is an important player and a key player for the squad. He’s phenomenal and we’re going to give him all the care and support he needs.’