Manchester United are still interested in signing Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, according to Spanish newspaper AS.
The report claims Manchester United scout Thomas Bormann was tasked with watching Bale in action for Wales against Austria yesterday and it’s only a matter of time before Jose Mourinho makes a move for the world-class attacker.
The newspaper goes on to suggest that Bale is Mourinho’s number one transfer target and United would be prepared to break the world transfer record for a second time following Pogba’s acquisition earlier this year.
Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 for a reported £85.3m fee, which made him the world’s most expensive footballer before Pogba completed his return to United this year.
Bale has started the season well enough, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist in 8 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid so far.
His current contract with the Spanish giants expires in the summer of 2019 and the negotiations over a possible contract extension are reportedly well underway.
Even if Bale doesn’t renew his contract soon, it would still be hard to imagine Real Madrid letting him go as they wouldn’t be able to sign a replacement before January 2018 due to their FIFA-imposed transfer ban.