Manchester United Transfer News: Gareth Bale Blow, Joao Miranda Bid Eyed

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has thrown a spanner in the works of Manchester United's reported plan to go in for Los Blancos star Gareth Bale in the January transfer window.

Rumours have abounded recently, per Spanish outlet Fichajes.net, via Metro, that United were looking to bring in the Welsh winger for £90 million in the new year, with Madrid reportedly happy to sell him at that price.

However, talking about Bale's potential return from injury, Ancelotti has seemingly ruled out any possibility of a January departure by reaffirming his importance to the squad, via Spanish football writer Nicholas Rigg:

This effectively puts paid to the rumours that the Bernabeu outfit were prepared to allow Bale to leave, and it comes as a major blow to United if they were indeed intending to go in for him.

However, it is likely good news in the long run for the Red Devils. Bale did not seem like the type of player United desperately need, as they already have a wealth of attacking talent but are weak at the back.

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The proposed £90 million would certainly be better spent bolstering Louis van Gaal's vulnerable back line, and, to that end, United are reportedly looking to beat Chelsea to the signing of Atletico Madrid centre-back Joao Miranda in January.

Ben Jefferson of the Express reports that United are set to put in an £18 million bid for the 30-year-old Brazilian. He was a mainstay of Atletico's run to the Champions League final last season and one of the best defenders in La Liga, per Spanish football writer Sergi Dominguez:

With United's current defensive travails largely down to the summer departures of previous stalwarts Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic and the inconsistency of an inexperienced current crop, Miranda would be a bargain at £18 million if he played anywhere near the level he reached last term.

He would bring stability, poise and steel to a defence currently hamstrung by their alarming tendency to be out of position at crucial times, often exposing goalkeeper David de Gea.

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United's reserve goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has seemingly committed his future to the club despite being told he is free to leave if he so wishes.

Former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes has been training with the Red Devils recently, with the free agent potentially set to sign at Old Trafford imminently.

With Van Gaal lacking confidence in Lindegaard, the Dane would likely be set to move further down the pecking order, but he seems eager to stay on in Manchester, per Richard Arrowsmith of the Daily Mail:

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The reserve stopper posted an artistic Instagram picture of himself standing in the Old Trafford tunnel looking towards the sky with a caption reading: "Follow the light #Loyalty #manchesterunited #mufc #oldtrafford".

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With the Bale deal slipping seemingly out of reach, United can return to their main concern when the January transfer window opens: their weak defence.

Miranda would be a terrific signing and could be an essential purchase for United in the second half of the season. However, he will not solve all of Van Gaal's problems, with at least one other defensive purchase likely required.