Manchester United Transfer News: Gareth Bale Talks Planned, Carlos Bacca Rumours

Manchester United are "set to open negotiations" with Real Madrid over the transfer of Gareth Bale, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t George Bellshaw of the Metro).

Bellshaw's article suggests Los Blancos are "happy to let him go for the right price and negotiations should begin in the coming days."

Bale has consistently been linked with United in recent times after struggling through his second season in Madrid, but reports of Rafa Benitez replacing Carlo Ancelotti as Madrid boss have suggested his importance is about to grow at the Bernabeu.

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John Cross of the Mirror reports Benitez has "promised" to build his team around Bale, a plan that "impressed" Madrid president Florentino Perez, whose confidence in the player remains undamaged. Confined to the wing for much of his time in Spain, Bale may be pushed to "a more central role, off the main striker and also working with Cristiano Ronaldo," per Cross.

The player himself recently hinted he is looking forward to next season with Madrid:

Bale isn't the type of star who gives up easily. He is capable of becoming a firm favourite at Madrid, but he will need to up his goal count and work rate to be considered essential to the club's future. He netted 13 league strikes during the 2014-15 campaign, down from 15 in his debut year and well below the 21 Premier League goals he scored for Tottenham Hotspur in 2012-13, per WhoScored.com.

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However, Bale's £85 million world-record fee looms over his head with every missed opportunity. The Bernabeu crowd is unforgiving, highlighted by jeers toward the player, hostility which isn't common in England, perhaps underlined by the United crowd's support of Radamel Falcao.

Bale was previously written off as a left-back at Spurs, though, so he knows how to battle through adversity when things aren't necessarily going his way.

United boss Louis van Gaal can be expected to spend lavishly during the summer. Attacking reinforcements are needed, and while Bale's transfer appears unlikely, Fichajes (h/t Bellshaw) also reports the club have "made a transfer offer" for Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca.

This link is perhaps convenient after Bacca led Sevilla to Europa League victory with his two goals in the win over Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. However, the Colombian enjoyed a quality domestic campaign—scoring 20 goals and providing six assists in 37 appearances, per WhoScored—a continuation of form that also saw him net 14 times during 2013-14.

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Bacca is a hard-working striker, someone who strives to make every touch count. He is capable of remaining on the last man, beating him with a quick turn of pace and incisive run. He can also drop slightly deeper to hold the ball up before spreading play and heading into the box.

United often hit a brick wall inside the opposition's box during the recently finished campaign and could use someone of Bacca's nature to up their danger factor. B/R UK's Alex Dimond recently looked at the players who could potentially depart to make room for Bacca, Bale and others:

Van Gaal's first season was defined by returning United to the Champions League, but massive improvements need to be made during the second.

United are unlikely to challenge for the title but should be aiming for second and a deep run in the European competition next season. A statement signing of Bale's calibre would be hugely exciting, but fans will no doubt be growing tired of fruitless links to the world's best players.