Once and for all Coral settle the Gareth Bale to Manchester United debate

Gareth Bale is the long and protracted subject of a bid in the region of £100m from Manchester United, who are odds-on at 1/50 with Coral to finish in the Premier League top four this season.

Should they do so, they will be guaranteed at least, an extra £100m in surplus revenue, which is likely to go towards new signings.

Manager Louis van Gaal, has encouragingly, for United fans indicated that he is willing to spend in the summer to make the squad even more competitive. A player like Bale fits the bill and recent rumours may not be too ridiculous.

A player like Bale wants to be loved, and at the minute Real Madrid fans aren’t exactly showering him in adoration, siding with former United favourite Cristiano Ronaldo, and at Old Trafford he would have the opportunity to become a club legend.

It would likely take a new world record bid to prise him away, though at only 25, the Welshman could become one of the best, and sell shirts as well.

Furthermore, Bale knows the Premier League, and is tested in coping with the intensity of it. With United’s forward options not really working this season, the former Spurs star’s best position could well be playing through the middle, converted to a central striker in the same way Ronaldo was.

Having started his career at left back, he quickly advanced forward through the positions at Spurs, eventually operating behind the striker in a free role, where he scored goals for fun.

The biggest key for United, is their powers of persuasion, as Bale isn’t currently sold on a move to Manchester, and is determined to stay in Madrid.

However, the chance to spearhead United’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns as their main man for years to come, could be too hard to resist.

If Red Devils are to have any hope at all of convincing him, traditional methods must be cast aside. Forget Ed Woodward, forget Van Gaal. Although, no doubt, well versed in convincing players to sign for them, this wouldn’t be the best tactic.

United’s ace in the pack, is Ryan Giggs. A compatriot of Bale’s who achieved everything at United, only he can sell him on the idea, and translate the club’s vision for the future.

Likely to take over the top job when Van Gaal moves on Giggs is going to be instrumental to the future of the club, and the futures of each player.

Bale might not want to move from Real, but if United adopt the right strategy, they will get their man, and can start to build a team around him.