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Football

17th May 2017

Gareth Bale set for Premier League return according to Spanish football expert

His future may no longer lie in Madrid

Simon Lloyd

Because repeatedly getting linked with a silly money move for one Real Madrid star is never enough, Manchester United are being tipped to move for Gareth Bale this summer.

Not for the first time, we were told on Tuesday that James Rodriguez is said to be close to a move to Old Trafford, with reports from his native Colombia going as far as saying that the move will be confirmed as soon as Sunday.

Now, hot on the heels of the James rumours, it’s also being reported that Bale – another man that’s been linked with United on a number of occasions throughout his career – could end up as part of Jose Mourinho’s squad. Only seven months on from signing a lucrative new deal to stay at the Bernabeu, an injury-hit campaign for the Welshman means he could be allowed to leave in the summer as the European champions look to bring in the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Eden Hazard.

 

Graham Hunter, who has been covering Spanish football since 2002, reckons that the former Tottenham star could be on his way back to the Premier League.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Hunter says he believes that Bale is mulling things over.

“I think Gareth Bale is mulling things over at the moment,” he said.

“Before you look at Griezmann and Manchester United there is a very real opportunity [with Bale]. If Gareth Bale decides to press the button and say to Real Madrid ‘I would like to go home again’ there is a very real possibility of that happening.”

Although it’s thought that Bale is reluctant to leave the Spanish capital, diariogol.com claims that the former Tottenham man’s agent has started to negotiate with English clubs. Not only this, it’s also said that he’s made it clear that he’d prefer the move to Manchester over a return to North London – should Real be willing to let him go.

Bale has struggled with an ankle injury this season before also being troubled with a calf strain. In his absence, Real have reached another Champions League final and, should they win their game in hand on Barcelona, will head into the final game of the La Liga season three points clear of their great rivals.