Manchester United Transfer News: Gareth Bale Eyed in Triple Summer Raid Rumours

Manchester United have long been renowned for being home to the finest British footballers, and according to reports, Louis van Gaal will look to bolster his squad with some of the most exciting talent from these shores, beginning with Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale.

According to James Robson of the Manchester Evening News, Van Gaal has made the Welshman his “top priority” and will look to land him as well as Danny Ings from Burnley and Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne.

Bale is definitely the name that will stir the most excitement among the club’s fan base; here’s a little look at why:

Indeed, the prospect of the Welshman scorching his way up and down the flanks at Old Trafford is a tantalising one. Bale has already shown that he has an ability to cut it amid the arduous nature of the Premier League, and returning from La Liga, he would be a much more technically sound and multifaceted footballer.

As noted by Squawka Football, he’s been one of Los Blancos’ leading men so far this year:

But it’s clear all is not well for the world’s most expensive player. The supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu regularly castigate him when things are going wrong, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s tantrum after Bale bagged a goal against Levante last time out was especially peculiar.

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As former England star Gary Lineker noted at the time, those kinds of antics can’t be conducive to a prosperous atmosphere:

Real seem keen to keep hold of Bale, though. Indeed, according to Pete Jenson of the Mail Online, the European Champions would rather sell Ronaldo this summer than the Welshman.

While that would represent an extraordinary decision, Real’s reluctance to let a player like Bale leave—someone who has scored massive goals in the infancy of his Los Blancos career—is understandable.

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Bale would be an unbelievable capture for the Red Devils, but at the moment it looks like a long shot. United fans shouldn't be dispirited by the reported pursuits of both Ings and Clyne, though, for while they may be understated in comparison, each would be a shrewd acquisition on the part of the Old Trafford outfit.

As we can see here courtesy of WhoScored, defensively, Clyne would add plenty to this United lineup:

The Southampton and England star has been sensational this season. Saints boast one of the stingiest defences in the Premier League and much of that is down to the unrelenting energy of Clyne in the right-back spot. Not only is he a player who boasts fine defensive instincts, but he can also get forward and pose a major threat to the opposition.

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Van Gaal loves his full-backs to fly up the pitch, and Clyne would be perfect for this United team in an area that they’re a little short of options. You suspect that if the Red Devils were going to bring the England man to Old Trafford, he would cost a lot of money, but he’d be a brilliant addition to this squad capable of filling a long-term void.

By contrast, Ings is a player who will not cost a penny in transfer fees, although Burnley would be due around £3 million in compensation should he sign elsewhere. His contract is due to expire with the club at the end of the season, and as noted by Robson’s piece, he has a host of stellar names looking to snap him up. Here’s a look at why, per Sky Sports News HQ:

While Ings definitely has the quality to cut it at a club a little more illustrious than the Clarets, it’s imperative he gets regular first team football if he’s to continue developing. While at the moment he would potentially add some dynamism to a toiling United front line, is he of the requisite class to fire this Red Devils team to the pinnacle of the division?

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At the moment, the jury is definitely out on that front. If Ings is guaranteed a significant role in this Red Devils team, then a move to Old Trafford would be an incredible opportunity. But joining up with the promise of being a bit-part player would hamper his development, and as such, it’s a decision he must take plenty of time to mull over.