Manchester United Transfer News: Gareth Bale Sale Mulled by Madrid, Top Rumours

Real Madrid are considering selling Gareth Bale in the summer as senior figures at the club have grown weary of the Welshman's "constant injuries and lengthy periods of recuperation," according to Manu Sainz of AS.

Sainz also noted "patience [is] running out" in Madrid with Bale only completing 44 per cent of minutes played by the Galacticos this season. 

Spanish outlet Don Balon (h/t Metro) recently reported Manchester United are still interested in purchasing the former Tottenham Hotspur winger and have offered the player a "dizzying" contract to move to Old Trafford. 

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Sainz explained Real are concerned Bale will follow the same path as Arjen Robben, who suffered with fitness issues during his spell in the Spanish capital, triggering his sale to Bayern Munich after just two years at the club. Bale is described as having a "brittle body" that has "broken down 11 times" since his transfer from Spurs. 

Sainz wrote:

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Since his arrival at Los Blancos in 2013, the 26-year-old has broken down 11 times and featured in only 8,620 minutes of a total of 13,590: just 63% of Madrid's first-team action.

And the percentage is even lower if the focus is shifted to the current season, during which Bale has only been involved in 44% (1,265 of 2,880 minutes).

His least injury-hit campaign came last term, when the former Tottenham Hotspur man appeared in 76% of the minutes played by Real (4,036 of 5,310), while in his maiden year at the Bernabéu he managed just 61% (3,319 of 5,400).

Taking into account the 100.7 million [euros] fee of his transfer from Spurs, plus his 18-million-euro gross salary, he has so far cost the club 750,000 euros per game.

And on top of that, Madrid's results show that the team do not struggle in Bale's absence, either: they have lost just once without him, in the penultimate week of the 2013-14 La Liga campaign.

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United want to sign a genuine superstar, and if Madrid are willing to do business over Bale, it is unlikely his injury record will scare off the Red Devils. 

The Wales international has the Premier League in his natural makeup and would not struggle with adapting back to the pace of English football—an element which often stuns foreign talent. 

Bale has been increasingly lethal for Real in the penalty area this season, scoring 13 goals in 15 La Liga appearances and providing eight assists, according to WhoScored.com.

Bleacher Report's Dean Jones recently suggested that if former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho arrives at United as coach, Bale could be tempted to join the Red Devils:

United could also target Barcelona defender Marc Bartra after learning the player can now leave the Camp Nou for a reduced price.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (h/t talkSPORT) claim the 25-year-old has a £20 million release clause in his contract, but a reduction in playing time achieved has reduced the figure to £9 million. The right-back is said to be ready to leave the Blaugrana in the summer after watching his hopes evaporate at his boyhood club.

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Bartra would be a bargain at the quoted price, and United need to strengthen the depth of their defensive options.

Luke Shaw will return at left-back next season, but Matteo Darmian has not fully settled on the right since arriving from Italy.

Bartra is also an accomplished centre-back and could be viewed as a long-term partner for Chris Smalling as United desperately try to assemble a consistently effective back four.