Manchester United Transfer News: Thomas Muller Blow, Latest Gareth Bale Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly unlikely to pick up Bayern Munich's Thomas Muller in the upcoming summer transfer window.  

The 25-year-old forward recently talked of his special "relationship" with United boss Louis van Gaal, sparking rumours that Muller may be set for a move to Old Trafford, per Simon Rice of the Independent.

However, German football expert Jan Aage Fjortoft says there is no possibility of Muller leaving Bayern, even if United's struggling winger Angel Di Maria was offered in exchange:

It is no surprise that Muller is unavailable for sale. He has a contract at Bayern until 2017 and is a key part of their attacking play.

The German international has netted 13 times and assisted 10 as Pep Guardiola's side have cruised to the Bundesliga title this season, per WhoScored.com.

A Bayern forward who may be available this summer, though, is Mario Gotze. The 22-year-old German has failed to make his mark at the Allianz Arena since his move from Borussia Dortmund in 2013.

Former Bayern and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Gotze needs to move if he is to flourish, and suggests a swap with Di Maria could benefit all parties, per Goal:

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Mario Gotze is badly out of form and has hardly contributed for Bayern Munich this season. It would be best for the club and the player if he moved on this summer. 

Bayern is clearly not the right club for him. There’s a lot of press focus, fans turning up at training every day, it’s intense in a way he doesn’t seem to like. If you have signed at a big club for a lot of money and much is expected of you, sometimes you have to stick out your elbows and make people know you are there.

Gotze seems to like a more harmonious atmosphere and Bayern are highly likely to sell him. He’s not happy at the club, and the club aren’t happy with him. When that’s the case it’s better all round to have a parting of the ways. Bayern will want to get back roughly what they paid for Gotze but whether anyone is willing to cop a £30m fee is another matter. 

There has been talk of a swap with Manchester United for Angel Di Maria. Whether that is likely I don’t know, but Di Maria is the type of player Bayern need, and they have to bring in players of his calibre.

"

Certainly, it does not seem as though Gotze is a good fit at Bayern, and he does not seem to be ingratiating himself with the hierarchy at the club, per Sky Sports (h/t Stefan Coerts of Goal, via B/R UK):

Gotze is an impressive attacking player, with the ability to link up well and create numerous chances by beating defenders. He would be a fine addition at United, who have often struggled this season to break up resolute back lines.

However, the prospect of United shipping off Di Maria this summer—he cost the Red Devils a British-record £59.7 million in August 2014—seems unlikely.

He has not set the Premier League alight in 2014-15, but he has the talent to turn his form around and become a key part of Van Gaal's team.

If Gotze is to move to United, Di Maria will surely not go the other way.

Hughes Advises Bale to Stay Put

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Stoke City manager and former Red Devil Mark Hughes has advised his fellow Welshman Gareth Bale to stay put at Real Madrid despite recent criticism from media and fans.

Bale has endured a difficult second season at the Bernabeu—he moved for a world-record £85 million from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013—most recently struggling against Juventus in the Champions League semi-final first leg, per BT Sport's Ian Darke:

A move back to the Premier League for Bale to United or Chelsea has been widely rumoured, although any Red Devils switch seems unlikely, per the Telegraph's Thom Gibbs (via Bleacher Report): 

Hughes, who endured his own troubled time in Spain with Barcelona between 1986 and 1988, has advised Bale to stay put, per the Daily Star's Dave Armitage: 

"

I think Gareth has every intention to stay out there as long as he can and he is right to do so. 

When you get the opportunity to go to a club such as Barcelona or Real Madrid you've got to go with the intention that you're going to try and stay there for as long as you can until they actually kick you out of the door. 

If you have a good support network, which by all accounts Gareth has over there, I'd say stay as long as you can because you'll look back and think what a great experience that was.

"

The 25-year-old Bale has still had a fairly decent time of it for Los Blancos this season, scoring 13 league goals and providing nine assists, per WhoScored.com.

His poor performance against Juve should be mitigated against the fact that he only recently returned from injury and was playing in an unnatural position as a striker, per ESPN FC's Craig Burley:

Much like United's situation with Di Maria, it would be very foolish of Real to offload Bale because of a few poor performances, especially considering how much money they paid for him. 

In all likelihood—and not least because Real have consistently said he is not for sale, per David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror (via ESPN FC'S Kevin Palmer)—Bale will follow Hughes' advice and continue at the Bernabeu.