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Manchester United told to sign Jack Grealish and Gareth Bale instead of Jadon Sancho

12 September 2020 by

Manchester United have been advised to forget about signing Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund this summer and instead sign Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale instead. Former Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood feels that United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward should be pulling the plug in the deal to sign Sancho, which has raged on all summer with lots of speculation and little action, instead signing Grealish and Bale.

It was suggested earlier this week that United reached a breakthrough in the deal for Sancho which meant that the club had agreed personal terms with the 20-year-old and also the agent fees that would be involved in the prospective deal. However, United and Borussia Dortmund have not yet agreed on a fee with the German club suggesting that the England winger will remain at the club for the 2020/21 season. United would have to pay €120 million (£108 million) for the player in one lump sum.

It is suggested that Woodward is not willing to spend more than £80 million and seems to be frustrated with the lack or progress, which would be down to his stubbornness and the fact that the Glazers are not willing to spend that kind of fee to land Sancho, which has been the story of the club especially since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. Sherwood speaking on Sky Sports, reported by The Express, talking about the Sancho situation and giving his own opinion, stated:

“I don’t think they need Jadon Sancho, I really don’t. If they have the money to go out and spend it on Jadon Sancho then you bring him in, you want as many good players as possible at the football club.

“But he is similar to what they have got. They’ve got Greenwood, Martial, Rashford and James – who played so much more than we expected him too in the early part of the season especially.

“All of them players we mentioned are like Sancho, they have pace and are a threat when teams play a high line against them.

“When teams drop deep against them that’s when they struggle. When Bruno Fernandes came in he could find the key to the door.”

United have been linked with Villa captain Grealish for the best part of the 2019/20 season during a period where the club had very little creativity. In January, United signed Bruno Fernandes and this summer signed Donny van de Beek to overcome that problem which is something Fernandes himself helped to solve. It is suggested that Grealish would cost £80 million this summer with Villa not wanting to sell, which will be a sticking point in any deal with Woodward pulling the strings. Sherwood stated:

“I would go for Jack Grealish. I think Jack can open the door and he is another [Bruno] Fernandes. He gives them a different quality which I think they need.

“I would also go and get Gareth Bale on a free transfer. Bale needs to come back to the Premier League and start playing football. I think he has got a lot to offer.

“If he goes to a huge club like Manchester United he will flourish for a couple of season.”

Sherwood also stated that United should opt for Bale on a free transfer, but he’s not going to be available as a free agent this summer as he still has two years remaining on his current contract, unless the Madrid club terminate his contract, which will probably cost them a lot of money. There has been a rumour of the Welshman being available for just £22 million also with a rumour coming from The Telegraph suggesting that the Madrid club would pay half of Bale’s wages which is a staggering £600,000 per week.

Last season, Grealish made a total of 41 appearances for Villa, scoring 10 goals and eight assists, playing in the Premier League and the Carabao Cup, a competition that the club reached the final of, only to be beaten by Manchester City. Bale did not feature much for Real Madrid last season, making a total of 20 appearances, scoring three goals and two assists. He did suffer four different injuries, missing a total of 13 matches and is carrying a knee injury at this moment in time. I agree with Grealish but Bale would be another Alexis Sanchez sized mistake for United.

Written by John Walker

Filed Under: First Team, Managers, News, Opinion, Transfer Rumours Tagged With: , , , , ,

Manchester United interested in signing Gareth Bale this summer, but only on loan – reports

9 June 2019 by

Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing Gareth Bale from Real Madrid this summer. However, it will not be the transfer that the Madrid club might be looking for. Zinedine Zidane has made it clear that the Welshman is not part of the future at the Santiago Bernabeu but both United and former club Tottenham Hotspur have both rejected making a £75 million move for the player this summer.

The report suggests that United will contact the Madrid club to test the water about a loan move for the 2019/20 season, with an option to extend that for a further 12 months. A loan fee would even be paid for the player. The player will turn 30 this summer and his return to the Premier League would be seen as a gamble, especially with Spurs also rejecting making a move for the player this summer.

Six years ago, Real Madrid beat United to Bale, spending £85.3 million, beating the fee paid for Cristiano Ronaldo four years previous – £80 million. I do not think any team would offer the Madrid club anything close to £75 million for the player, who is contracted to the club until the summer of 2022, signing his last contract in 2016. Real Madrid do not seem to be treating Bale all that well, which is a shame.

Over the past season, Bale made a total of 42 appearances in La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup, scoring 14 goals, providing six assists – averaging a goal every 187 minutes. Granted, those stats are not great – he did miss nine matches through injury during the past season and his injury record at the club has not been the best – missing around 75 matches in his time at the club.

Bale has played a total of 231 times for Real Madrid in the past six seasons, scoring 102 goals at the club. Granted, it was nothing like the record Ronaldo had at the club, which may not be matched for a very long time. However, Bale has been a world class player in his time, both at Spurs and Real Madrid. The question remains as to whether the player is declining rapidly or whether he just needs playing time.

It remains to be seen as to whether Bale would be interested in moving to United this summer if a loan spell was granted from the Santiago Bernabeu club, or whether Zidane and president, Florentino Perez will stick to their guns and try and force him to leave the club, which could be costly for them based on the wage the player is currently on. United will not play in the UEFA Champions League this coming season, which might pose some problems.

Bale could be a good signing for United if he wanted to make the move. Although he would play in the UEFA Europa League, he would return to the Premier League, a league in which he was once one of the best players in it. However, it might not be simple to reach those levels again. United need to desperately rebuild the club, starting this summer and another big transfer failing would ruin that process.

If United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in fact interested in Bale this summer, a loan deal would be best for United, better than paying £75 million for a player who may not rediscover his best form. However, Real Madrid will probably try to include a clause that United would need to purchase Bale at the end of a loan spell but they need to stand firm and if need be include an option rather than a compulsory clause to buy him.

United still has Alexis Sanchez at the club, a player who is on rather his wages, has not hit any kind of form which he had shown at Arsenal and could be just another player who could leave the Old Trafford club this summer, if other clubs around Europe are interested in the fee they may need to pay followed by the wages he will be demanding. United do not need to keep making these mistakes.

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Gareth Bale and Manchester United are two names that will continue to be linked, but is it possible?

27 May 2018 by

Manchester United have once again been linked to Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale after the Welshman suggested that he could leave the 13-time UEFA Champions League winners this summer. Bale was tipped to start against Liverpool in Kiev on Saturday evening but was in fact on the bench. Real Madrid scored the first goal through Karim Benzema after a calamity from Loris Karius. Bale came on for Isco in the 61st minute of the match, putting his side ahead again with a spectacular overhead kick.

The Welshman scored a second goal late in the game, another howler from Karius, who seemed to parry the ball into the net after looking in a good position to deny Bale from a second goal. Real Madrid had stopped Liverpool from winning a sixth European Cup but gave Jurgen Klopp an unwanted record, having lost six finals in a row now. Bale spoke to the media immediately after the game, reflecting on the fact he felt he should have started the match, stating that he should be playing week in, week out, saying:

“I need to be playing week in, week out, and that’s not happened this season. “I had an injury five, six weeks into the season but I’ve been fit ever since. I have to sit down with my agent in the summer and discuss it.”

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane also stated that Bale’s situation was “complicated” and it could be even more complicated to get the deal he wants to remain at the Santiago Bernabeu next season. That is the speculation anyway. Miguel Delaney of the Independent has suggested that Bale would earn around £600,000 per week in Madrid and that figure would be too much for United, according to Delaney anyway. Wages are climbing astronomically in this day and age and some of the players that are being highly paid are not worth it.

United’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward has been interested in signing Bale and tried to beat Madrid to the player in 2013. It seems that the Welshman is linked to the club during every summer window. It is suggested that Bale is interested in an Old Trafford move this summer and that, according to sources in Delaney’s report, the player has spoken to players at the club that he is friendly with about a switch. It all seems coincidental right now, to me anyway.

United have cooled in their pursuit of Bale over the years and now it would need to involve a change of stance from United, whether they attempted to make a deal, or not. It will probably turn into a saga which in the coming weeks will involve David De Gea, a player Real Madrid nearly signed once and seem to be interested, according to the media, in luring him to Madrid once again. United are said to be readying a new contract for the shot-stopper this summer but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Bale was not the only Madrid player to suggest his days at the club were numbered, Cristiano Ronaldo said; “it has been great being at Real Madrid,” seemingly suggesting that he could leave this summer. Of course, it could be something from nothing as the words uttered could talk about the feat Ronaldo has achieved at the club, winning his fifth Champions League trophy of his career, amongst other things. It could be a summer where not only United are seeking to assemble a team, Madrid could be on the change too.

I am sure Ronaldo will be linked with a return to Old Trafford at some point this summer, especially in the fact that Ronaldo was said to have a decision to make, which will probably be a new bumper contract at the Santiago Bernabeu. Bale though seems different. Could United sign him this summer? That is unknown. Should United be looking to sign him? Of course. He is one of the best players in the world right now and still has some things to achieve in his career.

However, United are in need of strengthening in other areas right now, which are more important. The fullbacks, the defence, and the midfield all require more attention than the attacking line. Anthony Martial is tipped with an exit this summer and United will need to find a replacement for him. Could that be Bale? Who knows. United seem to have moved on from Bale, but when Woodward is offered a chance of something, he could take it.

United have been named the club with the highest worth recently. Bringing in a player such as Bale, no matter what his injury record is, will help United become much richer. The fact that advertising will not only be something Bale would be involved in, let alone merchandise, the monetary value of Bale, even with a high fee, would be something that would benefit United greatly. Will it happen though? I am not yet convinced. Anything can happen in football, but some things need more of a push than others.

As long as United and Jose Mourinho address the problems that need to be addressed first, I don’t see a problem with them aiming to lure Bale to the Theatre of Dreams.

Filed Under: First Team, Managers, News, Opinion, Transfer Rumours Tagged With: , , , ,

Real Madrid to ‘cash in’ on £88 million Gareth Bale this summer, according to reports

27 March 2018 by

Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale could be sold this summer according to reports. Spanish news source AS has made the claim. Bale’s contract at the Santiago Bernabeu lasts until the summer of 2022 but the 28-year-old has seemingly failed to hit the high notes at the Spanish club and it has been claimed that president Florentino Perez will allow the Welshman to leave at the end of the season.

Bale left Tottenham Hotspur for around the same figure the Madrid club want to recoup in the summer of 2013 and was tipped to become one of the best players in the world – which has not quite come true for the Welshman.

Despite winning the UEFA Champions League three times, the UEFA Super Cup twice, the FIFA Club World Cup twice, one Supercopa de España, one Copa del Rey and one La Liga title – it does not seem enough for him to break down that duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best players in the world.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez saw Bale as the type of player to take over the crown from Ronaldo once he retired but that does not seem to be what is happening. A mixture of poor form and injury has seen Bale fail to replicate the form of Ronaldo, who is far from human at this stage of his career – he is that good – along with Messi, of course.

Bale has made 29 appearances for Real Madrid this season, scoring 12 goals. He was benched for the crunch clash with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this month, which suggests all may not be right in Spain for the Welsh winger.

United have been linked with Bale every transfer window since attempting to sign the player in 2013, failing to do so despite offering more money, reportedly anyway. Ed Woodward has been the type of executive at United who has sought to bring in ‘galactico-type’ players with Bale being the ‘one that got away’.

Personally, I do not think Bale is the answer, but if Woodward wants to attempt to bring him to the Theatre of Dreams, if Jose Mourinho would have a use for him in his game plan, being that he has already stated he will not sign attacking players this summer, perhaps this rumour might develop further.

There is the fact that Spurs if they want the player back, have a clause which will give them the chance to counter an offer made for Bale, which could see him play at their new stadium next season. Failing that, the highest bidder will get the player, who reportedly has stated that he would play in China, meaning he may be in it for the money after seemingly failing to be the player he could be.

Many United supporters do not want Bale at the Theatre of Dreams. Much like the Wesley Sneijder rumours, everyone wanted him at the time, but it soon died off, along with all the others who were linked summer after summer and went elsewhere, with United always missing out, despite never actually making a move for the player.

If there is any truth to this rumour, I reckon Bale will end up elsewhere with United always missing out on their top target, despite his stock falling that much, he’s not actually a target anymore. Gareth Bale is no Ryan Giggs and I would be surprised if he reached those heights before the end of his career.

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Welsh winger linked with ‘impossible’ move this summer…

8 May 2017 by

Gareth Bale is a player who always bets linked to Manchester United, no matter whether the Old Trafford club are interested in him or not. During the summer of 2013 under the management of David Moyes, United were interested in the Welsh winger, instead opting to leave Tottenham Hotspur for Real Madrid. This season, Bale has not been so prolific for los blancos, making just 36 appearances this season, two of which being from the bench, scoring nine goals and assisting a further three. Bale would be a dream at United, but that is as far as I think it would go, just a dream, not a reality.

What is being reported and by who?

The Manchester Evening News have linked Bale to United, citing reports in Spain, which is code for ‘this is a rubbish rumour and we like to create click bait on a daily basis for you to read’. These reports from Spain come from Don Balon, which since its return tends not to be the most reliable source in the Spanish media, which may come as a surprise to some. These reports come from the apparent fact Bale has told his agent he would like to move to Manchester, which is surprising as no statement has been made by the player or his agent and I am sure the first point of contact for both would be Don Balon. Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-German are stated to be three clubs other than United who could afford the transfer fee and the players wages. The Daily Star, another reliable source I know, have followed up with a report suggesting that Bale has agreed to join United after striking a deal with Jose Mourinho, on the condition United qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season. The Express, yet another ‘reliable source’ also claim something similar, which is funny as they both state the same source; Diario Gol. The Sun have a report on the matter also, not claiming anything sensational, just stating that Bale would consider leaving Madrid for United this summer. Nothing all that credible I’m afraid.

What type of player is Gareth Bale?

Gareth Bale is a world-class player capable of changing the game with his pace, skill and ability on the ball. Whilst playing for Tottenham Hotspur, as a left-back, Harry Redknapp changed his position, turning him into a winger, which is where he had the world at his feet. United were interested in the Wales international when he was at Southampton, opting for Spurs instead, something which Sir Alex Ferguson was not best pleased with, but United got over it and moved in the direction they wanted to. Bale would be a great player at any club, but not many would be able to afford both his transfer fee and his wage, meaning the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and probably Paris Saint-Germain would be his main suitors, in a realistic way, of course. Many more clubs would want Bale, but they can dream. Bale has been somewhat injury prone since leaving for Madrid, suffering nine injuries in four seasons, missing 261 days and 46 matches. Bale’s injuries are something linked to his reported departure, being out for the last three weeks, I am sure the Spanish media are just trying to keep themselves relevant by using such things to suggest the player has had his day in Madrid. We shall wait and see, but I reckon Bale will be wearing the number eleven short for Real Madrid next season.

Likelihood of the transfer?

I would like to see Bale at United, but FIFA 17 seems to be the place to see that in some sort of reality. The chances of this happening are slim, at best. Bale is happy in Madrid, he has said this umpteen times. These reports do not carry any quotes from the player telling his agent he wants the move, nothing from a credible source, not one credible journalist has claimed anything. It just seems to stem from a single rumour, with different stories seemingly coming off that. Bale may well leave the Santiago Bernabeu, but being that he is a ‘galactico’ player, there will be a massive amount of attention surrounding any transfer. The likes of Don Balon and Diario Gol would be eclipsed by the major Spanish newspapers claiming the deal would be made in the summer. Jose Mourinho may well be interested in Bale, but why would he leave Madrid for Manchester. United are a team in transition, making a step in the right direction this season, but seemingly earthing more problems to be solved, which ideally need to be solved in the summer. Bale to Manchester United, only in a virtual world at this moment in time, but you never know, it could happen but much will have to change for it to be a reality.

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copyright: JW