Imagining How Manchester United Would Best Use Transfer Target Gareth Bale

Given that it is January, Christmas has been and gone and Manchester United lost at home on Sunday, it seems a good time to indulge in a flight of fancy and imagine how Louis van Gaal could incorporate rumoured transfer target Gareth Bale into his side.

Ben Jefferson of the Express reports that "United [are] lining up a £120 million offer for Bale, [and] Real are looking to take the money and run."

Of course, as with all transfer rumours, there remains a good chance that nothing will come of it. However, if it does, what might Van Gaal's United look like with Bale in the mix?

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There is no doubt that an injection of pace and directness would have helped United against Southampton in the 1-0 loss at Old Trafford on Sunday, as it would have done in many of the away games in which the Red Devils have looked laboured. Bale's physical prowess would be a huge asset, particularly on the counter-attack.

As the arrival of Angel Di Maria has proven, bringing in a top-quality attacking player from Real Madrid does not guarantee success. In order to give Bale a platform, United's system would have to be set up to get the best out of him. He could then, in turn, help to unlock space on the pitch for some of United's less mobile forwards.

If Bale were to arrive, then a semi-permanent switch to 4-3-3 should be Van Gaal's preferred option. One of the main impediments to implementing it so far this season has been a lack of options in wide positions.

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With Adnan Januzaj unable to capture the form of last season and Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia needed to cover for injured full-backs, Di Maria has not had an effective foil on the few occasions Van Gaal has played that formation.

The fact that 4-3-3 only requires one out-and-out centre-forward is potentially another reason Van Gaal has shied away from it this year. With Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Wayne Rooney to accommodate, systems requiring multiple strikers have obvious attractions.

However, that is becoming less of a factor. Against Southampton, Falcao was left out of the squad altogether and Rooney was used in midfield, with Di Maria playing alongside Van Persie up front.

Assuming Falcao is not signed permanently and assuming Van Gaal sees Rooney's long-term future in midfield, then the switch to 4-3-3 makes increasing sense. The exact personnel are open to debate. Additions would still be needed in defence, given the injury records of United's key players at right-back and centre-half.

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The midfield three, if made up from players already at the club, could be something along the lines of Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini, although an upgrade on Fellaini in the "box-to-box" role would be very beneficial. Kevin Strootman may have told Sky Italia that speaking about other clubs would be "disrespectful" (h/t Mail Online), but he would suit the position well.

In an ideal world, Di Maria could be used as one of the midfield three, rather than one of the front three, with a new signing or an improved Januzaj operating on the opposite flank to Bale. The Argentinian's best performances for United so far have come from a deeper role, as did his man-of-the-match display in the Champions League final last season.

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Even with no other new signings, a potentially exciting XI featuring Bale could run along the lines of, David De Gea, Rafael, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw, Michael Carrick, Di Maria, Rooney, Januzaj, Van Persie and Bale. For increased discipline in possession, Ander Herrera could be preferred to Rooney or Januzaj, with Di Maria shifted forward.

Seeing Bale run at defenders on one flank and Di Maria on the other with talented players exploiting the space that is created is an enjoyable flight of fancy. Time will tell if it ever comes to pass.