Manchester United transfer news and rumours: £120m Gareth Bale bid back on, Nathanial Clyne stalls on Southampton contract, Nani return

The biggest transfer news and speculation surrounding Old Trafford

Jack de Menezes

Monday 26 January 2015 10:54 GMT

Gareth Bale scored the winner against Cordoba (Getty Images)

MANCHESTER UNITED ARRIVALS…

Manchester United have reignited their interest in Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, according to reports. The club have been linked with a move for the most expensive player in the world, with talk of a bid in excess of £100m being rumoured to be in the pipeline. Bale’s happiness at the Santiago Bernabeu continues to be put into question as fans have not taken to him as they did Cristiano Ronaldo, despite the Welshman scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 victory over Cordoba on Saturday.

LIVE: Latest transfer news and rumours

The Daily Express claims that United will increase their interest in the former Tottenham and could even lodge a £120m bid to test the waters in Spain. But with Real leading the way in the Premier League and potential replacements for Bale proving difficult to identify, the move is still a long way from being put in motion, let alone being completed.

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Show all 21

1/21Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Gareth Bale

Manchester United would love him and some reports suggest he would be open to a return home - but Real Madrid have said they wouldn't sell the winger at any price, even the mammoth £150m that has been mentioned in recent reports.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos would be perfect for United and is one of few truly world class centre-backs around. Another player Real will not want to lose, this move may wait until the summer.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Juan Cuadrado

The Fiorentina and Colombia winger was a target of United's in the summer but a move never transpired. He is lightning quick, brilliant on the ball and gets his fair share of goals. May cost more than £30m, however.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Ashley Cole

The former Chelsea left-back was linked with a move to United last summer, but instead went to Roma. There are suggestions he is unhappy in Italy and would be open to a return to the Premier League.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Ron Vlaar

Out of contract at the end of the season and impressing in his Aston Villa shirt, Ron Vlaar could be a quick and cheap fix at the back. That he's Dutch won't do his chances of an Old Trafford switch any harm either. Picked up a knee injury in early January that will likely end speculation.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Raphael Varane

The Real Madrid centre-back has been hugely impressive since breaking through at the Bernabeu. Would take a big bid to land the young France international, but that shouldn't be a problem.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Ezequiel Garay

Manchester United are keen to bolster their Argentinian contingent and the arrival of Garay would do just that. United reportedly sent scouts to watch the Zenit St Petersburg player.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Diego Godin

Having played a central role in taking Atletico Madrid to the 2013/14 La Liga title, the Uruguay centre-back is an obvious choice as Manchester United go in search of defensive reinforcements.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Gerard Pique

He played for Manchester United before being allowed to return to his boyhood club Barcelona in 2008. But recently things have soured for the Spain international, with new Nou Camp manager Luis Enrique leaving him out a few times this season. Could he be heading back to Old Trafford again?

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Nathaniel Clyne

A call up to the England squad boosts your profile, and in the case of Clyne, it's led to inevitable speculation that he could leave Southampton. The Saints will be desperate to hold onto the young right-back, but as they found last summer, if players want to go they usually get their way.

Reuters

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Benedikt Howedes

The Germany international can play on the left or at centre-back and it's understood that Manchester United have sent scouts to watch the World Cup winning-defender. The versatility of the Schalke player will appeal to Van Gaal.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Mats Hummels

Another Germany international interesting United is Hummels. The centre-back was made captain at Borussia Dortmund last summer to help ward off interest from other clubs, but with the German side struggling this term, they might not be able to keep the suitors at bay next time around. A £35m offer has been heavily reported and this deal is certainly one that is the more probable to see in the near-future.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Aymeric Laporte

The Athletic Bilbao defender, who has represented France at youth level, has been impressive of late and could be a longer-term option. Reports in Spain suggest a deal is "80 per cent" complete between the two clubs and would see United land one of the best performing up-and-coming defenders in the world.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Sami Khedira

Manchester United have been linked with Khedira, but then, who hasn't? The Germany international looks certain to be playing somewhere other than Real Madrid next term, and it could be Old Trafford.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Julian Draxler

The Schalke midfielder has been interesting Europe's top clubs for some time. So far, everyone has failed in their attempts to prise the youngster away from his boyhood club. With the money at Manchester United's disposal, they could persuade Schalke to relinquish.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Paulo Dybala

Manchester United have been linked with a move for Palermo striker Paulo Dybala. The 21-year-old has been banging in the goals in Serie A this term, leading to speculation he's in line for a big move. But the Palermo president has indicated he won't be allowed to leave for anything less that £31m

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Yohan Cabaye

After leaving Newcastle for PSG, France international Cabaye has reportedly failed to settle in the French capital. That he has struggled to force his way into the starting line-up under manager Laurent Blanc hasn't helped. That could make him open to a return to the Premier League.

Getty Images

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Marcos Reus

Another highly sought German player. With Borussia Dortmund struggling this term and no Champions League football next season a real possibility, it seems likely Reus could be sold in the summer. United will have to fight to be at the front of the queue.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Arjen Robben

The former Chelsea player has said numerous times he has no intention of leaving Bayern Munich. But then again, nothing footballers say can be taken as sacrosanct. His Dutch links and style of play make his a good fit at United.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Kevin Strootman

The Netherlands international was heavily linked with United in the summer but a serious injury ruled out the prospect of a move. The Roma midfielder has since returned to action and so the rumours have started up again. A fee of £30m has been mentioned.

GETTY IMAGES

Manchester United: Players who were linked with a January move to Old Trafford

Edinson Cavani

Almost immediately following his big-money switch from Napoli to PSG, there were suggestions Cavani was unhappy in France. Those rumours haven't gone away and the Uruguay international continues to be linked with an exit. Should United pass on signing Falcao permanently, Cavani could be a good alternative.

Nathanial Clyne has given United a boost in their pursuit of the England international after it was reported that he will not rush into any contract talks while the Red Devils remain interested in him. Clyne is wanted by manager Louis van Gaal and would become the second Southampton defender to move to Old Trafford in the space of a year following the signing of Luke Shaw last summer, but United are yet to make a formal bid for the talented right-back. The Evening Standard adds that with Clyne’s current deal set to expire in 2016, Saints’ manager Ronaldo Koeman would like to have his future resolved by April.

No sooner has Martin Odegaard joined Real Madrid than the next Norwegian superstar emerges onto the scene, with talk of 14-year-old Edvard Sandvik Tagseth interesting Europe’s biggest clubs. Tagseth has already spent time with Everton and will return to Goodison Park to spend more time with the Premier League side, and he will also pay a visit to Manchester United for a few days in March, according to the Daily Star. However, a six-day trip to rivals Manchester City is also said to be on the cards, with a host of clubs keen on landing the NK Neset starlet – although a deal with Rosenborg is reported to have already been signed and sealed.

AN OLD FACE COMING HOME…

Nani believes he still has a future at Old Trafford despite being shipped out to Sporting Lisbon on loan for the majority of the 2014-15 season. The Portuguese winger told the Manchester Evening News that it was his decision to leave United in search of regular football, not the clubs’.

Nani believes he still has a future at Manchester United

Nani said: “The club know my value and I know they want me to stay. It was me who made the choice to leave the club and it was a good decision by me because I knew if I stayed one more season at Old Trafford, it would be very hard for me. I just need someone to believe in me, trust me and my qualities, and give me an opportunity to show them on the pitch.”

NO NEWS IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD NEWS…

United’s move for Paris St-Germain defender Marquinhos shows little signs of going through after talk of any deal died down over the weekend following the French club’s demand for £112m. The Brazilian defender is wanted by Van Gaal to strengthen his defensive options, but shelling out a world record transfer fee for a centre-back that is currently third choice at PSG behind Thiago Silva and David Luiz would be a bold move to say the least.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies