Manchester United could be set to pay Real Madrid over €150m to bring Gareth Bale back to the Premier League.
According to AS, Reds’ boss Louis van Gaal has asked his Old Trafford bosses to make a firm push for the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder in the January transfer window, although Madrid have no intention of selling one of their prize assets.
It is understood the buyout clause in Bale’s contract is set at €1bn and the Welshman’s advisors say they are unaware of the origins of the story, published in the United Kingdom, while the player himself is happy in the Spanish capital and is currently learning the language.
Van Gaal believes United are still three or four quality players away from challenging Chelsea and Manchester City, and has identified what he needs to turn the Red Devils into title challengers: one or two central defenders, a midfielder and a striker who can turn games in his team’s favour.