Manchester United Transfer News: Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema Bids Revealed

Manchester United have reportedly had two world-record bids turned down for Real Madrid star Gareth Bale this summer.

That’s according to Antony Kastrinakis of the Sun, who noted that both of the offers were in excess of £100 million. As reported by Marc Williams of the Daily Star, Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal has expressed his desire to sign a “superstar” before the window shuts and the swashbuckling Welshman is a player he thinks fits the bill.

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Legendary Red Devils midfielder Bryan Robson agrees. Speaking during the launch of ESPN's Greatest Sporting Cities (h/t Paul Hirst of the Press Association, via the MailOnline), the ex-United man encouraged any pursuit of the world’s most expensive player:

"

Bringing Bale in would be a really good signing if it was to happen. The good thing with Bale, and this is what the manager likes, is he can play in two different positions - he can play wide coming in and also as a centre-forward. 

It will be really difficult but if the manager can add him to the squad I think he will be a happy man.

"

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The piece from Kastrinakis also refers to some additional bids for Los Blancos stars from the Red Devils. Indeed, as noted by ESPN.co.uk, the Sun suggest that Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane were also targeted by United, as well as star defender Sergio Ramos.

At this stage, the prospect of Bale or Benzema joining United seems fantastical. Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell took a closer look at some more realistic business the club may conduct this summer:

If there have been two bids so lucrative for the former Tottenham Hotspur star rejected, it only confirms that Real have an immense resolve to keep hold of Bale. Given the central role he’s been stationed in throughout pre-season, new manager Rafael Benitez looks set to hand him some increased responsibility in 2015-16 too.

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But Bale would surely be tempted by the prospect of moving to United. As we can see here courtesy of Sky Sports News HQ, he’s previously proven he is capable of shining in English football’s unforgiving top flight:

The Welshman was heavily criticised by the Madridistas at times last season, too, as he failed to scale the same heights as his debut season, in which Bale scored winning goals in the finals of the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Nonetheless, according to Hirst’s piece, he’s willing to stick it out at the Santiago Bernabeu regardless.

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If he’s greeted with similar animosity again this season, perhaps talk of a move away from the Spanish capital will carry more sway. United’s bids may be taken a little more seriously then and the prospect of landing Bale is a tantalising one for all associated with the Old Trafford club. But, for this season at least, Van Gaal looks as though he’ll have to continue admiring the player from afar.

Jesse Lingard Set to Leave

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Despite impressing away with England under-21s in the summer and for the Red Devils during their pre-season tour, Manchester United look poised to part ways with talented young midfielder Jesse Lingard.

That’s according to the Sun (h/t Marc Williams of the Daily Star), which claims that Bristol City are set to agree a £2.5 million fee for the player. Williams suggested that personal terms between the club and Lingard are likely to be thrashed out “immediately.”

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Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe admitted he was a fan of the academy star earlier this year but expected him to go out on loan:

Needless to say, a sale would leave a lot of United supporters a little unhappy. After all, there have been glimpses of major quality from the adaptable midfielder and after Van Gaal started the 22-year-old in his first Premier League game in charge of the club, Lingard was expected to be on the fringes of the first team.

But if the player’s chances of regular football are bleak moving forward, perhaps a sale is the best course of action. After all, Lingard isn’t a teenager; at his age he needs to be playing on a weekly basis. At Bristol City he’ll get that opportunity and will have an ideal platform to showcase his undeniable talent on a much more regular basis.