Manchester United Transfer News: Gareth Bale Reportedly to Spark Bayern Battle

The race for one of Europe's brightest talents could get a lot more interesting next summer following news Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich will challenge Manchester United for Gareth Bale's signature in 2016.  

The report comes from Spanish website Fichajes.net (via the Daily Star's Marc Williams) as the question marks surrounding Bale's Real Madrid future point to the possibility of a departure next year.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Der FCB are alleged to see the Wales international as a long-term replacement for the injury prone Arjen Robben, who turns 32 in January and will see his Bayern contract expire in the summer of 2017.

Speculation of a Bale departure from the Bernabeu has been egged on by rumours of friction between him and Real Madrid poster boy Cristiano Ronaldo; however, manager Rafa Benitez recently told esRadio the attacking pair "get along just fine" (via The42.ie):

"

There are good journalists and others whose interests are against Real. We all make mistakes but not like the false news reported. They say that I have problems with Ronaldo and that I do not speak with him. Lies. I speak with him every day.

Cristiano and Bale get along just fine. The most important thing in all this is that they have a common goal — to help Real win. The biggest advantage of having a player like Cristiano is that he gives you 50 goals a season. While they keep coming, I am calm.

"

Nonetheless, reports of a supposed divide between the players have continued and the Daily Mirror's Ed Malyon described Bale's situation as him being "hounded out of the club," partly down to a poor relationship with the Spanish media.

A lack of synchronicity is also attributed to Bale not fitting in with the plans of Benitez, whom former Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said is at odds to satisfy his biggest stars, per Tom Williams of Agence France-Presse:

Robben's diminishing presence at the Allianz Arena does make for a plausible storyline in why the club might chase Bale, but many supposed that as the reason why Brazil's Douglas Costa was signed last summer.

United have been consistently linked as sitting among the front-runners to recruit Bale should the former Tottenham Hotspur marvel make a Premier League return, per Williams.

However, Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal is still attempting to make a success out of summer arrival Memphis Depay, while Anthony Martial has made a seamless transition following his move from Monaco.

United would most likely need a major reshuffle if they were to sign Bale and keep in line with financial fair play regulations. It just so happens Rob Dawson of the Manchester Evening News has questioned the value of another big-money name, United captain Wayne Rooney:

Pep Guardiola's Bayern could also be considered a genuine threat because they would have the means in place to challenge for Bale, a player only a select few European clubs could afford.

That being said, any move to acquire Bale would be considerably more expensive than the club's existing record signing of €40 million Javi Martinez in 2012, and a return to England appears far more likely.