Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema Rumours

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Ince believes that Real Madrid star Gareth Bale will return to the Premier League, pointing out that the Red Devils have the money to make a deal for the talented Welshman.

Ince made the comments while speaking on behalf of 888poker.com (h/t Metro's Tom Olver):

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I can see Gareth Bale returning to England because I know there’s a few issues at Real Madrid.

Bale’s first year at Real Madrid was absolutely outstanding, but there’s a lot of jealousy at the club because of the way he played in that first year.

I can see him coming back. From a personal point of view he will want to stay out there because he doesn’t want to come back a failure after one-and-a-half seasons.

As a player when you get an inkling the club wants to sell you and you don’t feel welcome then you want to leave and ultimately Manchester United have the money.

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Bale's dream move to Real Madrid hasn't exactly played out the way everyone envisioned, and after a promising first year in the Spanish capital, his future with Los Blancos seems anything but secure following a disappointing 2014-15 campaign.

The 26-year-old failed to impress last season as Real finished the season without any major trophies, and both the fans and the media quickly turned on the Wales international, as noted by the Daily Mirror's Ed Malyon.

Things haven't improved in 2015-16, and his agent, Jonathan Barnett, only made matters worse by taking a dig at Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Malyon. Ever since, the Madrid-based press has been quick to smear Bale whenever things go wrong for the club.

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

Bleacher Report's Karl Matchett believes Bale needs a “world-class season” to save his career with Los Merengues, and his performances so far in 2015-16 have been anything but world-class. He looks uncomfortable playing with the squad, and a change of scenery could be just what he needs.

This is where the frequent links with United come into play. The Red Devils have lacked an attacking spark and consistency in front of goal this season, and Bale could be the dream signing manager Louis van Gaal needs to truly challenge for the Premier League title.

Defensively, United are extremely solid, but their attack has been woeful, led by the misfiring Wayne Rooney. A lack of creativity and raw athleticism in the attacking third has been one of the team's biggest issues―Bale would solve both.

His time with Real may not have been perfect so far, but when he's been on form and playing with confidence, he has looked fantastic. Here are some of his highlights over the past few seasons:

This particular transfer rumour pops up every now and then, and with Bale continuing to struggle in Spain, that won't change anytime soon. Unless the Welshman turns things around drastically, he will return to England in the near future, and United remain the favourites for his signature.

Karim Benzema Discount?

Daniel Ochoa de Olza/Associated Press

Speaking of United's attacking issues, El Confidencial (h/t Metro's Will Giles) claimed that Real Madrid want to rid themselves of Karim Benzema, and are looking for significantly less money that the £43 million they reportedly wanted last summer.

The 27-year-old has been at the heart of a sex-tape blackmail scandal that could see him go to prison for up to five years if he's found guilty, according to the BBC. The ongoing investigation makes a transfer extremely unlikely, although Real could still decide to move him if he is cleared of all charges.

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Benzema has been a vital part of Real's attack for years now, and while club president Florentino Perez may wish to strengthen the striker position should the club fail to win any major silverware again this season, the France international continues to have the support of the coaching staff.

As shared by ESPN FC's Dermot Corrigan, manager Rafa Benitez is adamant that Benzema remains a pivotal part of the squad:

It's far too early to start discussing a potential transfer, as no club will touch Benzema until the investigation into the blackmail scandal is over. If the judge decides not to send him to prison, things may start to heat up, but until then, there's little use speculating.

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