Gareth Bale to Manchester United: Ed Woodward ready to launch £90m bid for Real Madrid star - but David de Gea is not leaving

Relations between United and Real are at an all-time low after the collapse of De Gea's summer transfer

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Manchester United will re-launch their bid to try and sign Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale in the summer in a deal that could cost as much as £90m, although they will not look to offset that fee with the sale of goalkeeper David de Gea.

The Sunday People reports that United are keen on making a fresh approach for Bale in January when the transfer window reopens, having seen a move for him in the summer fail to materialise as United missed out on a number of high-profile targets.

But should Real wish to reopen the negotiations for De Gea that broke down on transfer deadline day in September, it’s added that United’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, is unwilling to discuss the possibility of selling the goalkeeper after he signed a new £200,000-a-week contract earlier this year.

Relations between the two clubs are at an all-time low following the collapse of De Gea’s move, with both releasing statements in the aftermath laying the blame firmly at each other’s feet.

But officials at Old Trafford are confident they can still do business with the 10-times Champions League winners, and the hope is that they can persuade Real to part with the most expensive footballer in history in Bale.

While United are being linked with making tentative enquiries over a January move, it’s highly unlikely that they will spend over the £86m it cost Real to sign Bale from Tottenham in 2013, but should talks continue through to the end of the season then as much as £90m could be freed up to try and land the Wales international.

United believe that they can use the difficult relationship between Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo to their advantage, as Ronaldo is still seen as the main protagonist at the Santiago Bernabeu. However, reports have emerged recently that Real head coach, Rafa Benitez, is being pressured to move Bale to a more central role – which is currently occupied by Ronaldo – and with French champions Paris Saint-Germain interested in the Portuguese forward, Real president Florentino Perez would risk the wrath of the Madrid faithful should he unsettle the current Ballon d’Or holder.

Bayern Munich pair Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski remain on their radar too and will be looked at as alternatives should the Bale move fail to make any headway.

United are keen on adding to their attacking options after recording three consecutive goalless draws. The troubles have been compounded by Wayne Rooney’s alarming drop in form which has seen him score just twice in the Premier League this season, while Anthony Martial has not been able to keep up his impressive strike ratio since moving to Old Trafford in the summer.