MANCHESTER UNITED have joined the race to sign Gareth Bale for just £18.5million, according to reports.
Real Madrid are desperate to get the golf-loving Welshman – and his £600,000-a-week wages – off their books.
Man Utd have joined the race to sign £18.5m-rated Gareth BaleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Solskjaer would have plenty of attacking options at his disposal with Bale on the booksCredit: Reuters
And now United have joined Bale’s former club, Tottenham, in the hunt for a cut-price fee.
Should Ole Gunnar Solskjaer save Bale from his Bernabeu exile, he would have an array of attacking options and formations to pick from.
SunSport have taken a look at five potential Man Utd XIs if Bale heads to Old Trafford…
4-2-3-1
How Man Utd could line-up with Bale in a 4-2-3-1
THIS was the preferred formation for Solskjaer for much of the second-half of last season thanks to the arrival of Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese star enjoyed a sensational start to life at Old Trafford, particularly in the No10 spot.
Flanked by Bale and Marcus Rashford with Anthony Martial ahead of him, United could be a real force going forward.
In midfield, new-boy Donny van de Beek would be joined by Paul Pogba in a tasty midfield pairing.
Dean Henderson is pushing David De Gea for a starting spot between the sticks and surely now deserves his shot in the United first-team.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is a certainty to start at right-back with Harry Maguire – who has been retained his captaincy for the season despite his alleged Mykonos melee – starting at centre-back.
Chris Smalling will fight Victor Lindelof for the remaining centre-back spot, with Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams rotating at left-back.
4-3-3
How Man Utd could look in a 4-3-3 with Bale
THE modern classic, Solskjaer could roll with a 4-3-3 with Bale in the squad.
In this scenario, Bale would start at right-wing, with Rashford on the left and Martial through the middle, as seems to be Solskjaer’s preferred set-up.
In midfield, Fernandes would drop deeper and join Pogba and Van de Beek, with the Dutchman the deepest of the three.
Solskjaer could field the same back-four line as the 4-2-3-1 for the sake of defensive consistency.
3-4-3 / 5-2-3
Man Utd could line-up in a 3-4-3 / 5-2-3 with Bale
A VERSATILE formation made famous by Chelsea under Antonio Conte, Man Utd could use the 3-4-3 system.
In this XI, Smalling and Lindelof would likely start alongside Maguire, with Wan-Bissaka and Shaw acting as wing-backs.
In attack the formation is a strong, aggressive 3-4-3 with plenty of width, while in defence, there is a solid bank of five with two central midfielders for cover.
A duo of Van de Beek and Fernandes would be the most well-rounded, but Pogba of course would fight with both for a starting spot.
Up front, Rashford, Martial and Bale would keep their spots.
4-4-2
Solskjaer could go old school 4-4-2 to accommodate Bale
ONCE the bread and butter, now the wonderfully retro… Solskjaer knows all about playing for Man Utd in a 4-4-2.
With the same back-four as the earlier formations, Solskjaer could depend on a well-drilled group.
Welsh duo Daniel James and Bale switching wings seamlessly could wreak havoc in attack, with Martial and Rashford up front.
Mason Greenwood would of course be vying for a spot in the front two and could even take James’ spot in a slightly deeper wing position.
But allowing Martial AND Rashford to both start in their favoured spot in the middle of the attacking line could reap plenty of rewards, like so many attacking duos throughout Man Utd history.
Van De Beek and Fernandes would likely take the two central midfield spots, with Pogba settling for the role of impact sub.
3-5-2
How Man Utd could look in an attacking 3-5-2
CERTAINLY the most attacking of the lot, Solskjaer could field a 3-5-2 with Bale on the books.
With Maguire, Lindelof and Smalling in defence, United would have plenty of strength in the middle of the back-line.
But this formation would provide no defensive width, meaning attacking wide-men would need to track back – which could detract from the forward intent.
In midfield, a trio of Fernandes, Van de Beek and Pogba certinaly looks enticing on paper.
Out wide, Bale would be joined by one of Greenwood or James.
And, crucially, Rashford and Martial would both retain their central striking roles…
Gareth Bale continues love of golf even in Covid-19 bubble by playing PGA Tour 2K21 ahead of return to Real Madrid
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
