Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Gareth Bale and Aymeric Laporte

Gareth Bale insists Real Madrid's quality is the reason he snubbed Manchester United to move to the Bernabeu, while Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte looks a genuine January transfer option for the Red Devils.

The Welsh winger moved to La Liga from Tottenham in the summer of 2013 for £85 million despite constant links with the Old Trafford outfit, per Jack Wilson in the Daily Star.

But Bale has told the BBC the prospect of playing with the likes of former United superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at Real was what pushed him towards a move to Spain, per Chisanga Malata of the Daily Star: 

"

It's another reason why I came to Madrid - to learn from the best players. Seeing Ronaldo in training every day, how concentrated he is on every aspect of his game and on the pitch, it gives me that kind of platform to aim for and keep improving, and hopefully one day I can get there.

"

Bale has certainly thrived at Madrid, winning the Champions League and the Copa del Rey in a fine opening season.

Though he has been somewhat hampered by injury so far this term, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague—and Real coach Carlo Ancelotti—consider him one of Real's key players, a huge vote of confidence given the quality on show at the Bernabeu:

Recent reports have suggested that United may be set to go in for Bale in the January transfer window, per Fichajes.net (h/t Metro), but considering the 25-year-old's recent comments, as well as Ancelotti's backing, any move seems highly unlikely.

On the other hand, Louis van Gaal's potential signing of Athletic centre-back Laporte seems much more plausible as United are in desperate need of defensive reinforcements in January.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

According to Fichajes.net (h/t 101 Great Goals), the 20-year-old Frenchman is available for purchase, but at a high price with a release clause of between £30 million and £36 million.

However, United showed in the summer with the purchases of Angel Di Maria, Daley Blind, Marcos Rojo et al for over £150 million—whose contributions so far are assessed below by Rob Dawson of Bleacher Report UK and Manchester Evening News—that they are not afraid to splash the cash:

For United's scrappy 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, Van Gaal was forced, because of injuries and suspensions, to field an out-of-position Blind and inexperienced Paddy McNair in central defence.

There are clear deficiencies in the position at Old Trafford and Laporte has, thus far, proved himself to be a top prospect, having missed just one of Athletic's 11 La Liga games so far this season, per football writer Rich Laverty:

Defensive strengthening is essential for United come January as better organisation at the back would vastly improve their results and allow the Red Devils' terrific attacking unit to work to their full potential.

With the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham all continuing to falter, a top-four finish is well within United's reach despite a poor start to the season, but dealings in the new year will be key to where they eventually finish in the Premier League.