Manchester United Transfer News: Leon Bailey Interest, Fresh Gareth Bale Rumours

Manchester United could attempt to bolster their attack with the addition of Racing Genk starlet Leon Bailey, and they have also met Gareth Bale's agent in an attempt to convince the Real Madrid superstar to switch to Old Trafford.

Peter O'Rourke of ESPN FC reported that Manchester United and manager Jose Mourinho are "stepping up" their interest in the teenage prodigy after he was named Belgium football's best young player last term.

The winger has attracted widespread interest, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool "keeping tabs" on the exciting Jamaican winger.

However, O'Rourke added United are ready to pounce "after watching him on several occasions in recent weeks." Mourinho's chief scout Jim Lawlor has been sent to assess the 19-year-old, whose flair performances have caused excitement. The north-west giants could move for the attacker in January after he was nominated for the Golden Boy award alongside Marcus Rashford.

Here is Bailey in action:

United are also planning an ambitious swoop for Cardiff-born icon Bale after reports said executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Mourinho have both met with the player's representative.

Spanish news outlet Diario Gol's Fernando Rodrigo (h/t James Walters of the Daily Star) reported United have "already taken steps" to secure Bale's return to England, secretly meeting with the attacker's agent Jonathan Barnett last week in Manchester.

Walters also wrote that Adidas wants to bring Bale to the Theatre of Dreams as primary sponsors of both club and individual. 

Diario Gol added the Welshman is ready to quit Real after remaining in "Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow" at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

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Bale collected his second UEFA Champions League winner's medal last season as Real swept to their 11th European Cup trophy.

The 27-year-old scored 22 goals in La Liga and Europe last term, according to WhoScored.com, as he once again proved to be one of the planet's greatest talents.

Sky Sports La Liga recently shared Bale's 50th strike for Los Blancos:

The potential acquisitions of Bailey and Bale would give United pace to burn in attack, with their current set of forwards lacking the speed to navigate past full-backs.

Bailey has the potential to replace Memphis Depay in the squad, and the Dutchman was recently linked with a transfer away from United after a torrid spell in England, according to Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Anthony Jepson of the Manchester Evening News).

AC Milan are willing to part with £25 million for the Dutch attacker, according to the report. 

Bailey fits the profile of the type of player Mourinho would like on his bench as he further tests and develops his starting XI at the club.

However, it is the addition of Bale that will have the biggest impact on the fans in the Stretford End, and the Wales international would give the self-proclaimed Special One a genuine world-class attacker to feed his pack of exciting strikers.

Bale would take United to the next level of competition—both home and abroad—and the Red Devils have proved they have the ambition to sign the very best after their captures of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba.