Gareth Bale is “open to the idea” of a move to Manchester United, according to an exclusive report on Friday.
The 27-year-old Bale is willing to move to United in the summer if Real Madrid decide to move him on, reports The Independent.
The report claims Old Trafford bigwigs have been keen on bringing Bale back to the Premier League for a while, but Jose Mourinho is not keen.
United’s primary target is still believed to be Antoine Griezmann, but negotiations with Atletico Madrid and the player have been difficult.
And now ‘sources’ from both Real and United say a deal to being Bale to Old Trafford is “much likelier” than at any point in the last few years.
Bale, who only penned a new deal to tie him to the club until 2022 in October, signed for Real from Tottenham in September 2013 for £85million and has been a hit in La Liga and Real president Florentino Perez remains a huge fan.
However, the report claims it has not gone unnoticed at the Bernabeu how fluid Real have become with Bale missing through injury and Isco in the team.
It’s believed Real could sacrifice Bale this summer to give them funds to strengthen their squad elsewhere, but Mourinho’s preference is still to get Griezmann on board.
It’s unlikely United will sign two marquee players and it may well come down to whether Griezmann signs as to whether they pursue a move for Bale.