Manchester United are interested in signing Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale, according to reports.
The Welshman recently conceded he is looking for a way out at Santiago Bernabeu, adding that Real Madrid are making it “very difficult” for him to leave the club.
United have previously been linked with the former Tottenham star, and now Marca claims they have rekindled their interest in the 31-year-old.
The reports claim that Bale is set for talks with Real manager Zinedine Zidane to discuss his future, but that the La Liga champions hope United will come up with an offer to finally put the saga to an end.
Tottenham are also believed to be keen on signing Bale, with Jose Mourinho a huge fan of the Wales international. But unlike United, Spurs don’t have the cash to complete a deal.
Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon recently claimed that last summer the Spanish club received a £89m offer for Bale from an unnamed Premier League team.
But the bid was snubbed as Real Madrid still believed Bale had a part to play at the club. But last campaign showed he has no real place in Zidane’s team, with the Frenchman actively freezing out the Welshman.
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Calderon told talkSPORT: “I know in the last day of the transfer window last year there was an offer from the Premier League.
“They offered €100m [£89m] and Real Madrid turned down that offer because they thought Bale would be a player in their side.
“I’m not allowed to say the name, though I do know the name of the club. I think at the end there was a disagreement as Madrid decided not to sell the player, because they thought he was a player who could be used and be in the starting line-up.”
Calderon added: “I think the player neither wants to leave nor to reduce his salary. It is true his salary is very high, but in 2016 the club decided to increase his salary. It is difficult for any club to pay that salary, especially knowing the situation of football nowadays.”
Bale also made reference to the same transfer bid in an interview with Sky Sports: “I tried to leave last year but they [Real Madrid] blocked everything at the last second.
“It was a project I was excited for last year but it didn’t materialise. And there have been other instances but the club won’t allow it or something, so it’s up to the club.
“I want to play football. I’m still motivated to play football. I’m 31 but I’m in great shape still and I feel I’ve got a lot to give. We’ll see what happens. It’s in the club’s hands and they make things very difficult to be honest.”
