Real Madrid Transfer News: Los Blancos Reportedly Open to Selling Gareth Bale

Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale may leave the club this summer following speculation Los Merengues are open to negotiating a transfer for their star winger, and Manchester United could be the beneficiaries.

Bale has often been linked with a return to the Premier League after leaving Tottenham Hotspur in 2013, but The Independent's Miguel Delaney reported Real's own transfer plans may mean Bale is now available.

Los Blancos are focused on completing a move to sign either AS Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe or Chelsea talisman Eden Hazard, and some Real board members are said to believe Bale "could well be the high-profile player to leave this summer."

The Red Devils have long been linked as one of the English suitors champing at the bit to bring Bale back to the Premier League, and James Robson of the Manchester Evening News recently gave some insight as to why:

The former Spurs superstar moved to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu for £86 million four summers ago and has repeatedly been associated with moves away from Real, but 2017 could be the year it actually comes to fruition.

United also recently learned they most likely won't be signing Atletico Madrid frontman Antoine Griezmann, which has pushed Bale up their transfer shortlist, according to M.E.N.'s Samuel Luckhurst:

Many fans in Madrid may prefer to see Bale remain in Spain's capital. After all, the Welshman has done his bit to help the club to two UEFA Champions League titles and La Liga's crown this season, with a third European title up for grabs this Saturday.

BBC presenter Mina Rzouki told 5 live Sport she was of the impression it would be a major mistake for Real to cash in on their former world-record signing, who can still grow to become the talisman at the Bernabeu:

As long as Cristiano Ronaldo remains at the club, Bale may be forced to settle for a reduced portion of the limelight, a dynamic that doesn't suit his approach considering flair and explosiveness are all part of his game.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho appears to be hoping to unleash that power at Old Trafford, and if Real are focusing their recruitment efforts elsewhere, the English giants will be only too happy to invest in their stars.