Four reasons Bale should be Man United's top transfer target

With nearly a month gone by in the transfer window, and major clubs completing swoops for star players left, right and centre, Manchester United supporters are yet again awaiting the arrival of a principal target. While this is not a situation too unfamiliar to the Old Trafford faithful, the departure of Sir Alex and his tight-lipped approach to transfers with him, there is an added air of uncertainty this time around.

United’s partially public pursuit of Thiago Alcantara flopped, largely thanks to Pep Guardiola, and their interest in Cesc Fabregas is currently being stone-walled by Barcelona. To add to the woes, Rooney seems closer to the exit door than ever, with United’s statements over his future appearing more as a ploy to squeeze out the maximum possible transfer fee for him than anything else. Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines, both currently at David Moyes’ former club, Everton, are being linked with United but there seems little concrete in that direction. What is surprising, however, is that a prime target for United just a season ago, Gareth Bale, is barely being spoken of as a major target. Here are four reasons why he should be:

1. Rooney is on his way out:

Make no mistake about it. Unlike his last tantrum, Rooney’s current fit has been met with disdain and a sense of wariness by all parties involved. The fans, the management, and the new manager all seem ill-disposed towards bending over backward to place this problem child. Statements to the effect of openly relegating him to second-choice striker in the United set-up by Moyes have done no good to this frayed relationship, and it will be a real surprise if Rooney is still plying his trade with the Red Devils come the end of the transfer window.

Undoubtedly, the impact on United will be significant. A versatile player such as Rooney with a keen eye for goal and several United records in his kitty will be missed not only on the pitch, but off it as well. It will contribute very little to soothing the nerves of the fans if United, champions of England, fail to offset his departure with a marquee signing. Bale, who is quicker, more adapted to the Premier League, and arguably better than almost any transfer target United could come up with, would be perfect.

2. A square peg for a square hole:

When United signed Robin van Persie from Arsenal last year, there was general consensus that it was a great purchase for the club, but not quite one that addressed their deepest area of concern; the midfield. A year later, with Paul Scholes retired again, United’s midfield remains just as devoid of glamour as ever. Yet, it is not the central area which United lacks in, considering how Carrick, Jones, Cleverley, Kagawa and others have fared. Disciplined workman-like performances have kept the United engine chugging along, but that spark of brilliance has been missing ever since dear Cristiano departed for Spanish pastures.

Nani, Valencia, Young, and even Welbeck and Kagawa have been played out wide at various times; none managing to pin down a regular spot. United’s famed 4 – 4 – 2 approach has failed to pay off on more occasions than ever before, with a winger rarely getting past the opposition defence. Zaha might change all that. Gareth Bale definitely will.

3. Talking tactics:

Shinji Kagawa has spoken of possibly returning to Borussia Dortmund in the future; not at all surprising, considering how he sometimes “felt lost” at United, playing in unfamiliar roles simply to facilitate senior players in the side. With the ‘hole’ position behind the striker always manned either by Rooney or RvP, the diminutive Kagawa was forced to fend for himself out wide, something which seems tactically frail. The departure of Rooney, combined with Bale’s arrival would let Kagawa play in his favoured position, where he did so well towards the tail-end of this previous season.

Even from a defensive perspective, keeping in mind the fact that Patrice Evra seems to care as much about defending as Balotelli does about getting a decent haircut, Bale’s arrival would boost United. The reckless pace with which Bale can lead an attack down the flank should deter opposition players on the same side from exploiting the gaps left behind by Evra with as gay abandon as they sometimes have done over the recent past.

4. It’s make or break for Moyes:

The business of football is a merciless one. Where United fans have till now begun the season at reasonable ease with the familiar figure of Sir Alex at the helm, they know that this season will be different. Everything that Moyes does will be scrutinised in gory detail. Even as he steps into the giant shoes he hopes to one day satisfactorily fill, there are plenty who decry his appointment at a club which is used to incomparably greater silverware than he is. Another reason people put forward as to portray him a bad choice is that he has much lesser pull in the transfer market than some of the other managers (Yes, Mourinho) who might have been interested in the United job.

While only time will tell if Moyes can handle the first complaint, he has a golden opportunity to silence those harping on the second. Shrewd as he is, one can be certain that the Scot is much more involved in the transfer negotiations than he lets through at press conferences. While the likes of Fabregas might be too far away, and too surrounded to be majorly influenced, Bale is definitely closer and more likely to listen to Moyes. Pulling off a coup from under the noses of Real Madrid, who are said to be front runners for Bale’s signature; that would definitely silence a few rants.