Manchester United have already spent heavily this summer to bring Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku into their side, bolstering their options in defence and attack respectively, but the Red Devils continue to be linked with further additions.

Widespread reports suggest that Ivan Perisic is a top-target for Jose Mourinho’s side but he’s not the only name being linked with a move to Old Trafford before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August- and one piece of gossip has started to gain traction in recent days.

Real Madrid’s continued, and very public, pursuit of Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe has led to questions as to where exactly the French teenager would slot in for Zinedine Zidane’s side, as a world record move could lead to adjustments in Los Blancos’ established ‘BBC’ striking trio.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale have been Real Madrid’s established front-line for a number of years but that partnership could be broken apart by the potential arrival of Mbappe- as reports suggest Zidane will offload one of his attacking stars and it’s highly unlikely to be Ronaldo on the way out.

Whilst some suggest Benzema will be the man sacrificed, Real Madrid may struggle to generate interest in the 29-year-old French striker, especially as there’s already been a wealth of movement in the transfer market this summer for top-class strikers.

Gareth Bale, meanwhile, is a player who could genuinely find himself on the move as the Welsh superstar has struggled with continued injury problems during his spell at the Santiago Bernabeu and his position has already come under threat due to the rise of Isco and Marco Asensio.

If Bale were to leave Real Madrid, a return to the Premier League would certainly be on the cards and links to Manchester United, where he’s been heavily linked to in the past, are likely to populate the back pages once again. However, the Red Devils need to avoid the transfer at all costs.

Bale doesn’t fit into the current Manchester United transfer policy of securing top-class young players and his injury issues are a massive concern, especially with the price-tag and wages he would command. Having a superstar in this area would also likely reduce the opportunities for Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, which could be detrimental.

There’s no denying Bale is a top-class player but his knee issues mean he’s not a reliable option for Manchester United and moving for the Welsh ace may backfire significantly- and that’s something Mourinho’s side cannot afford to witness.