Manchester United Transfer News: Raheem Sterling Bid Rumours, Gareth Bale Latest

Manchester United are ready to make a £25 million bid for Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling, according to David Anderson of the Mirror.

Anderson suggests the Red Devils have already had an approach for the player "firmly rejected" and that a bid will also prompt other suitors into making offers. Nick Sutton of BBC Radio 4 tweeted the Mirror's headline:

Liverpool can expect a bid from United within the "next few days," but Anderson suggests Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are also monitoring the player.

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Rafa Benitez discussed the wantaway winger during his unveiling as Real Madrid boss on Wednesday, per Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC:

Sterling has the potential to be a match-winner at the top level but needs to focus on adding consistency to his game. He scored seven goals and assisted seven more in 35 Premier League matches during the 2014-15 season, per WhoScored.com—numbers he can certainly be pleased with at 20 years old.

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However, he was guilty of missing many simple opportunities, one of which came against United at Old Trafford, when he rounded David De Gea but still had his eventual shot saved.

Sterling is pacey, built well and willing to work hard. United boss Louis van Gaal needs an injection of pace in his team—something he's started to add with the signing of PSV Eindhoven winger Memphis Depay—and will be looking for a greater selection of alternatives.

B/R UK's Sam Tighe recently discussed where Sterling is likely to end up:

United also continue to be linked with a move for Madrid star Gareth Bale, reported by James Orr of the Independent.

Red Devils midfielder Marouane Fellaini suggests the Welshman would be more than welcome to join the Old Trafford club, as revealed in an interview with Greg Stobart of Goal: "He's a great player," said Fellaini. "Everyone in England knows his quality because he played for Tottenham [Hotspur] and he had a great season. But now he’s in Madrid. We will see at the end of the season."

Bale, like Sterling, would inject urgency into United's attack. Van Gaal's men too often failed to up the ante in the opposition's half during the recently concluded campaign, with offensive moves slowly fizzing out after too many passes.

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Neither Wayne Rooney nor Robin van Persie is the quickest of players, and each needs to be stationed alongside someone who can take multiple defenders out of the game with one run. Depay is an excellent signing, but adding Bale or Sterling to play on the opposite flank would also be a smart touch.

United should be looking to land silverware next season, as well as Champions League football. It's too soon for Van Gaal to lead a title charge, but winning any of the other trophies up for grabs will stop any pressure from building. Luring Sterling from United's archrivals would also be an achievement in itself, even if Bale is likely the more attractive prospect for many of the club's supporters.