Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest on Gareth Bale and Iker Casillas Rumours

Rafa Benitez has "promised" to build around misfiring forward Gareth Bale if he's installed as Real Madrid manager, according to John Cross of the Mirror.

Los Blancos President Florentino Perez is a huge supporter of Bale—previously telling Jose Felix Diaz of Marca he wouldn't entertain a bid to sell "no matter what"—something Cross believes Benitez has played on to make himself favourite for the Bernabeu vacancy. Perez is "impressed" by the Spanish manager's plans, according to Cross' report.

Carlo Ancelotti's sacking at Madrid was confirmed during Monday's press conference, per BBC Sport, and Benitez has since emerged as the leading contender to replace the Italian, as Tom Sheen of the Independent reported.

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Cross suggests Benitez's strategy will involve pushing Bale in-field to "a more central role, off the main striker and also working with Cristiano Ronaldo." In May, Cross reported Bale has "privately" revealed being played wide is his "biggest frustration" at the club.

The Welshman took on a free role during his time with Tottenham Hotspur, allowing him to pick the ball up behind a central striker. He could feed the more advanced attacker himself, or find pockets of space to burst into before heading toward goal.

Bale was isolated on the wing throughout the 2014-15 campaign, often failing to brush beyond his mark. He completed 0.5 successful crosses per La Liga appearance, recorded by WhoScored.com, suggesting Ancelotti shoehorned him into the team.

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When you consider Bale's defensive contribution isn't the greatest—he is prone to being left up-field—the frustrations of his season were borne out of tactical inefficiency as much as his poor form.

B/R UK's Guillem Balague recently discussed this: 

Sky Sports' Terry Gibson believes Madrid's next boss should maintain focus on Ronaldo, as told to Revista de La Liga: "For the next manager, Ronaldo should be a centre forward and a team should be built around him. He'd be free of any defensive responsibility. He plays as a centre forward now but is addressed as a left sided attacker. That's an issue for the new a manager."

Balague also spoke on Revista, suggesting Ronaldo's game would be impacted if Bale moved to the middle: "To see Bale flourish we need Ronaldo to step back a little bit." He suggests the 30-year-old's physical "limits" need to be addressed by pushing him into the No. 9 role, allowing "Bale perhaps to have the freedom to play around him and to grow as well."

Bale hinted he is looking to remain with the Spanish club on Twitter:

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Goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who has also been linked with a move away this season, also made his desire to remain at the club clear in a recent interview, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC:

The new boss, whether it's Benitez or not, could help rejuvenate the two players who are at very different stages in their Madrid careers.

Bale has posted one excellent and one middling campaign with the club, while Casillas began his tenure in the youth ranks back in 1990. Both still have plenty to offer Madrid, but need to quickly rediscover their confidence.