Gareth Bale to Manchester United: Ed Woodward set to make last ditch bid by offering £65m plus David De Gea to Real Madrid

United hope that offering Real's top transfer target in De Gea will convince them to sell the world's most expensive footballer

Gareth Bale is a reported transfer target for Manchester United (Getty Images)

Manchester United will launch one final bid to try and sign Gareth Bale this summer by offering Real Madrid £65m as well as goalkeeper David De Gea, according to reports.

United have come up short in their attempt to land a marquee forward this summer, although the club are actively seeking to address that before Tuesday’s 6pm transfer deadline. Having held interest in the likes of Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller and Barcelona’s Neymar, the Daily Star claims that United will use Real’s interest in De Gea to try and sign Bale.

Wayne Rooney is yet to score in the Premier League this season, although the midweek hat-trick against Club Brugge in the Champions League play-offs suggested he could be on his way back to form, but United have limited cover should anything happen to the England striker.

Javier Hernandez disappointed after coming off the bench and missing a penalty in Belgium, while Van Gaal has hinted at deploying Marouane Fellaini as a makeshift forward if needed.

However, the desperation to add to the frontline remains, and United’s executive vice-chairman will reportedly try and persuade Real to part ways with the most expensive player in history and sell Bale in return for De Gea and a sizeable transfer fee.

A source at the club reportedly told the Daily Star: "This would be the perfect deal for the club.

"It would cost them a lot of money but Gareth Bale is one of the world's biggest stars, while goalkeeper De Gea has made it clear he wants to leave.

"It would suit all parties but there is not much time left and deals like these tend to take weeks because of everything involved. But United remain determined to bring in a big, big name before the window closes."

De Gea is believed to be confident of securing a move back to Spain, but United are ready to frustrate him right until the end of the transfer window. Real must agree a deal for De Gea by midnight on Monday, given that the transfer window closes a day earlier in Spain than it does in the Premier League due to the absence of a bank holiday on Monday.