Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Gareth Bale and Kevin Strootman Rumours

Manchester United have been given fresh hope in their pursuit of Gareth Bale, with reports suggesting that some senior players at Real Madrid have turned on the Welshman. The news comes after Bale failed to play in Karim Benzema for a tap-in during Real’s recent game against Valencia.

With the score poised at 1-1, the No. 11 went for goal himself and missed the chance, leaving Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo noticeably unhappy with the player’s decision making. To compound matters Los Blancos went on to lose the game 2-1.

Here’s a look at the incident (commentary in Spanish):

According to Marca (h/t Jack Wilson of the Daily Star) Benzema and Ronaldo are finding it difficult to forgive and forget following the incident and Wilson suggested the predicament has given the Red Devils a boost as they look to bring Bale back to the Premier League.

Here’s a look at what he would bring to Old Trafford:

Sadly for those Red Devils supporters who are keen on seeing the former Tottenham Hotspur man plying his blistering trade for Louis van Gaal’s side, this incident looks as though it’s been blown out of proportion. Instances like this happen in every game at every level and, with tensions running high, players reacting angrily is normal.

As noted here by RMadridHome, it’s vital to put things into perspective:

"

Yes Bale should've passed to Benzema or at least finished his chance. But you'd think he deserves at least a pass for what he's done for us.

— RMadridHome (@RMadridHome) January 4, 2015"

Los Blancos manager Carlo Ancelotti also doesn't seem too concerned about the miss, per Nicholas Rigg of AS:

Let’s not forget, Bale’s link-up play with Ronaldo and Benzema was a staple of their recent 22-game winning run and has been critical to the team’s success throughout the season, per Squawka football:

Benzema and Ronaldo would find it difficult to comprehensively deny that they wouldn’t have done the same as Bale in the aforementioned situation and subsequently any needle between the trio will only have been instantaneous. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

If Madrid were to sell the Welshman—especially after vehemently denying that they would, per Marca—on the back of an instance like this it would be plain ridiculous. With that in mind, United must explore other options as they look to bolster their squad in January.

But they may have to widen their search away from AS Roma’s Kevin Strootman after the club once again re-affirmed their desire to keep hold of the Dutch midfielder. The club’s manager Rudi Garcia has insisted that, after his injury layoff, the 24-year-old’s return to full fitness will be like bringing in a new signing, per David Lynch of the Manchester Evening News:

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The biggest signing of January? [Juan] Iturbe and Strootman.

With Kevin, we obviously knew he had such a bad injury that it would take him time to get back to 100 percent. He'll basically only have half a season, but fortunately we play less games in the first half of the campaign.

The more he trains, the more he is improving. For Kevin, the break was important, even in a mental sense to get back to training with a freshness. Gradually, we'll see whether he is 100 percent, but he is getting back to it in training.

"

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

Here’s a look at what Strootman, who has been linked with United in perpetuity since Van Gaal was named as boss, could bring to the club:

Garcia certainly isn't speaking of Strootman as if he is about to be sold and it’s little surprise. At the time of writing, Roma are just three points behind Juventus in the race for the Scudetto and a return to fitness for their midfield dynamo could be critical to their chances of glory in the second half of the Serie A campaign.

The club’s supporters are also clearly keen on keeping him around, per James Horncastle of BT Sport:

Bleacher Report’s European football expert Andy Brassell assessed the chance of a deal for the midfielder happening in January:

Roma couldn’t have been more clear in their willingness to keep hold of the player past the January window and from a United perspective that could well be a blessing in disguise. That way, the club can monitor his recovery from injury from afar and determine whether or not to make a bid for the player in the summer window.