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What's the story?
Premier League club Manchester United have been told that they can sign Gareth Bale for £53 million by Real Madrid according to English media outlet Express (via Diario Gol).
The Red Devils, who have been long-term admirers of the Welshman, have been informed by the La Liga club that they are free to sign Bale next summer if the report from Spain is to believed.
In case you didn't know...
Bale was bought by Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspurs for an astronomical fee of around £80 million in 2013. The 28-year-old then helped Los Blancos win three UEFA Champions League titles and one La Liga title.
However, the former Tottenham player has spent the majority of the last 18 months on the sidelines due to injuries and is set to be shown the door next summer.
Bale has been a long-term target for Manchester United. The Red Devils' legendary manager Alex Ferguson wanted to sign the player when he was in the Southampton academy. The 28-year-old was also linked with the Manchester club during the reigns of David Moyes and Louis van Gaal.
The heart of the matter
Jose Mourinho could be finally fulfilling Manchester United's desire to sign Bale in the summer of 2018 after being told by Real Madrid that the player could be bought for £53 million.
This report has come as a surprise as it was earlier said that the 12 time European Champions will be looking to recoup almost all the money they paid for Bale in 2013.
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Author's take
Bale to Manchester United is a rumour that has been doing the rounds for some time now and there certainly is some truth to it. However, Diario Gol is not a reliable source for transfer news and it is hard to see Zinedine Zidane agreeing to sell the player for as little as £53 million.
