'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the news?
Manchester United have rejected Real Madrid's latest offer for Paul Pogba as Los Blancos offered Gareth Bale plus cash for the French midfielder.
In case you missed it...
The Welsh winger secured his move to Real Madrid from Tottenham for a then-world-record transfer fee of 100.8 million Euros. Since his move to the Spanish capital, Bale has won four Champions League, one La Liga, and a Copa Del Rey. Former Tottenham Hotspur forward played an integral role in two UCL final for Los Vikingos, scoring goals for a winning cause.
Since Zinedine Zidane's arrival at Real Madrid for his second managerial stint, the French manager has phased Gareth completely out of first-team. In his latest press conference, Zidane asserted that the Welshman is not in his plans by saying,
“Bale did not play because he is very close to leaving,”
“We hope he leaves soon. It would be best for everyone. We are working on his transfer to a new team."
“I have nothing personal against him, but there comes a time where things are done because they must be done, I have to make decisions. We have to change."
“The exit is the coach’s decision, and also of the player, who knows the situation. The situation will change, I do not know if in 24 or 48 hours, but it will, and it’s a good thing for everyone.”
Zidane has been a long-term admirer of Paul Pogba but Manchester United's exorbitant asking price has resulted in a logjam of talks between the clubs.
The heart of the matter
The Galacticos have already spent over 300 million Euros in the transfer market, making it highly unfeasible for them to match United's asking price of €200 million. On the other hand, the Red Devils are unwilling to let Pogba leave this summer.
According to reports emerging from Standard Sport, Real Madrid has tried to offer Gareth Bale as a makeweight to reduce the Pogba's transfer fee. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is targeting younger cadre of players and Gareth Bale's outrageous wage bill have diminished a remote chance of this deal to happen.
Man United's refusal to sign Bale has left Bayern Munich as the only team capable of paying a weekly wage which is believed to be in the region of £600,000.
What's Next?
Real Madrid is desperate to sign Paul Pogba this summer but the difficulty in offloading Gareth Bale could scupper the Frenchman's chances of securing a move away from Manchester this summer.
