Manchester United could return to the Gareth Bale sweepstakes.
According to The Independent, "Manchester United may offer competition to Real Madrid in the pursuit of Gareth Bale this week, with Tottenham Hotspur seemingly more receptive to the English champions, having become deeply frustrated by negotiations with the Spanish side."
The Red Devils were a rumored destination for the Welshman but wound up pursuing Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas to no avail. Meanwhile, the Spanish giants made a tremendous 100 million euro offer for Bale's services, but have not received any news from Tottenham. Reports indicate that the English side is looking for the money and a player, but Madrid seems uninterested in increasing its trade bid.
While Manchester United cannot offer more money than Madrid, it does have a bevy of players that it could sell to Premier League rivals without causing too much damage to its own chances at a repeat. At the top of the list: Wayne Rooney. The striker reportedly has his heart set on leaving the Old Trafford; however, he wants to go to Chelsea.
Chelsea finished third in the Premier League last year and is a top contender this season with the return of Jose Mourinho as manager. Tottenham is on the rise, but relies heavily on Bale. An acquisition like Rooney would help the team's goal scoring rate but would not solve all of the club's problems.
If the club won't sell Rooney, then Javier Hernandez could be an attractive option. The Mexican striker is one of many scoring options on the club and has not had much playing time in the last few years. Bale is another scoring threat and the continued presence of Rooney means that Hernandez will be stuck sitting on the bench.
Should Manchester United sell one of its players to get Bale?
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