Manchester United Transfer News: Huge Gareth Bale and Memphis Depay Budget Set

Manchester United's likely return to the Champions League and £750 million kit deal with Adidas will help manager Louis Van Gaal fund the signings of Memphis Depay, Mats Hummels and Nathaniel Clyne, according to reports.

Widespread speculation in the English press also claims that Van Gaal will have an extra £100 million set aside to sign Gareth Bale should Real Madrid make the Wales international available.

Mark Ogden of The Telegraph believes Van Gaal "will be handed the funds" to entice Real Madrid into selling the Welshman. Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail breaks down United's prospective earnings in a similar report, which mentions the same targets: "United will net about £50 million for returning to Europe and another £75 million from the first instalment of the record Adidas contract that starts on August 1."

The Telegraph's Sport section led with United's potential interest in Bale on Friday, tweeted by Nick Sutton of BBC Radio 4:

Both Ogden and Ladyman stated that United secured £28 million from the final year of their agreement with Nike, so the 2015-16 season will be met with a huge increase in earnings.

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"With the huge new Premier League TV deal due to kick in a year later and United one of the few clubs in Europe largely untroubled by financial fair play rules, United's board are happy to spend big this summer," notes Ladyman.

Ogden suggests United will land "almost £100 million in extra earnings." This is reported to be the figure they offered Tottenham Hotspur for Bale before he moved to Madrid, according to former England boss Fabio Capello in an interview with Corriere della Sera (h/t Ben Jefferson of the Express).

After a disappointing second season, this kind of figure could tempt Los Blancos into cashing in on the £85 million man. Ladyman believes Van Gaal will receive a "£100 million surge in transfer funds," so it's possible all of the extra earnings could be put to immediate use.

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Depay remains an alternative but is also rumoured to be interesting Liverpool, per Kieran Gill of the MailOnline. Former Chelsea director of football Frank Arnesen thinks the Dutchman will move to England one way or another, per Goal:

United need six points to confirm a place in next season's Champions League. The club did extremely well to lure players such as Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao to the club without the draw of Europe's elite competition, but a second successive year without entry into the tournament would make attracting the best even more difficult.

Bleacher Report's Matteo Bonetti recently looked at how the club can mount a title challenge:

Bale appears the perfect player for United. His pace and incisiveness would help raise the side's tempo and counter-attacking threat. The former Southampton man worked effectively with Di Maria at Madrid, where a combination of both helped Carlo Ancelotti's side lift last season's Champions League trophy. Bale would be the marquee, stand-up-and-take-notice signing Van Gaal needs.

First thing's first, though: United have two games to win before they can count on a payday that could significantly impact the club's future.