Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Memphis Depay, Gareth Bale Rumours

Manchester United winger Memphis Depay has responded to recent rumours that he may be set to depart Old Trafford by posting a collage of himself on Instagram celebrating in a Red Devils shirt. 

The Dutchman "sparked doubts" over his United future recently when he deleted all but one of his posts on Instagram, per Samuel Luckhurst in the Manchester Evening News.

In an apparent response he posted a new selection of photos on his account on Tuesday, via Sky Sports News HQ's Hayley McQueen:

Memphis has not had the best of debut seasons at United since his high-profile move from PSV Eindhoven last summer, but he has shown flashes of his immense potential. 

A return of just two goals and no assists in 27 Premier League appearances have led many to surmise that Memphis was not worth the £31 million United paid for him, per WhoScored.com.

However, it would surely be premature of United to let him go after just one season, especially as he is only 22 years old.

He looks to have the build and pace to excel as a winger at United and has shown on occasion this season, particularly in Europe, that he can be a match-winner.

While tracking social media habits is hardly a scientific way of detecting a player's state of mind, Memphis' latest activity seems to indicate he is keen to stay on at Old Trafford, and he has surely done enough to have earned another season to prove himself.

Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Meanwhile, longtime United target Gareth Bale is reportedly set to sign a new deal at Real Madrid, but only if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Los Blancos.

According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague on Sky Sports' La Liga podcast, Real are prepared to make Bale the No. 1 man at the club in place of Ronaldo, a move that could deal a blow to United's chances of signing the Welshman:

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Ronaldo and [Real] tried to part ways and have found it very difficult. Unless someone comes with the money for both parties, Ronaldo is there to stay. Which means the likes of Robert Lewandowski will say he is not coming.

[Bale] was told next season he would be the focal point of Real Madrid. When he has been given the opportunity, he has embraced it fully and has enjoyed himself, but with Ronaldo there that will not happen.

Ronaldo has been limiting his influence on the game. Ronaldo is picked to play in and around the box so there is more work to do for the others and more work to do for Bale.

Bale is having the best goalscoring moment of his career at Real Madrid and is two away from his record at Spurs. The pessimistic view Bale had last season of his future is changing and that is why conversations have started over a new deal. 

"

Bale, 26, is currently enjoying one of his best seasons so far at the Bernabeu having netted 19 goals and provided 10 assists in just 22 La Liga appearances, per WhoScored.

Real surely have no interest in selling him on as he is the heir apparent to Ronaldo as the club's key attacker, although the idea of shipping out the 31-year-old Portugal international this summer also seems slightly ludicrous as he continues to be their most prolific scorer.

United's summer moves are, as yet, quite difficult to predict as there is uncertainty as to who will be the manager at Old Trafford at the start of next term, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:

Whoever it is, though, Bale will still likely be a key target as he could be the star man United have been missing as they have struggled in recent seasons.

With Ronaldo drawing to the end of his career and Bale performing better than ever, it seems highly unlikely that the former Tottenham Hotspur winger will be available this summer, and United will surely have to look elsewhere if they want to make a superstar addition.