• Premier League

United ready to enter Bale race

ESPN staff
August 12, 2013
Giovanni Trapattoni believes Bale is not worth £100 million

Manchester United are reportedly ready to enter the race to sign Gareth Bale, with Tottenham Hotspur more receptive to agreeing a deal with the Old Trafford club than Real Madrid.

According to The Independent, Spurs have grown deeply frustrated by negotiations with Madrid, who have relentlessly pursued Bale all summer.

The is no firm offer on the table for Bale from United, however Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, has serious doubts about whether Madrid have the money to complete the transfer. Levy is pushing for a world-record fee in excess of £100 million.

United may be spurred into making a bid given their failure to land their top transfer targets this summer. Thiago Alcantara snubbed United for the overtures of Bayern Munich - and a reunion with Pep Guardiola, his former manager at Barcelona - while Cesc Fabregas has decided not to return to the Premier League.

But David Moyes is still looking to make a marquee signing to kick-start his reign as United manager, especially given the negative publicity surrounding Wayne Rooney's desire to leave.

United know that concluding a deal for Bale will be a difficult process, though. Levy was a frustrating negotiator when United signed Michael Carrick from Spurs for £18m in 2006, and Dimitar Berbatov for £30.75m two years later. Spurs would also likely demand Javier Hernandez as part of any transfer.

Moyes is also expected to make a joint £35m bid for Everton pair Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini. After United's 2-0 victory in the Community Shield against Wigan, he said: "We're moving forward [to making signings]. Every day you get closer - and so does the [transfer] deadline - but if we have to I am happy to go with what we have. We have a lot of good, young English players."

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