Gareth Bale to Man United? Only if they can win the Europa League
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Manchester United seem destined for a mega money signing this summer, but the latest reports suggest Gareth Bale, rather than Antoine Griezmann, will be the one who breaks the bank.
The Welsh Wizard could be set to swap Madrid for Manchester, according to Spanish news outlet Diario Gol.
They claim injuries have frustrated Bale’s season in the Spanish capital, and that his future is far from certain because of it.
And the statistics certainly agree with those claims.
Bale has made just 19 appearances in La Liga this season, and only 26 across all competitions.
His numbers read nine goals and five assists, which makes for a less-than stellar average of one goal every 214 minutes.
That’s over three-and-a-half hours between goals, a record which pales in comparison to team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who is netting every 108 minutes.
Bale joined Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2013 in a then world-record £85m transfer.
And with a contract running until 2022, any future move this summer could well reach a similar fee.
But if he is to join Man United, then the report claims the Red Devils must first secure Champions League football.
And with Jose Mourinho’s men now 14/1 to land a top-four spot in the Premier League, it’s unlikely the Old Trafford outfit will secure their passage to the elite via traditional route.
So it all adds extra important on tonight’s Europa League clash with Celta Vigo.
Holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Spain, we make United 1/2 favourites to win tonight and reach the final.
And at 4/7 in the outright betting, the Red Devils look on course to secure that vital Champions League spot, where the ramifications will only become clear later this summer.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
