Gareth Bale is set to face Manchester United tonight (Getty)

Manchester United should reconsider their interest in signing Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, according to former Old Trafford favourite Paul Parker.

The Red Devils have been consistently linked with the Welshman and ahead of tonight’s Super Cup Jose Mourinho admitted he wants to sign the forward – if he is available.

‘If he plays [in the Super Cup], it is the clearest signal that he is staying there [at Real Madrid]’ said Mourinho. ‘Then I won’t even think about it [trying to sign him]. If he is not in the club’s plans and it is true that a player like Bale is at the departure gate, I will try to be there waiting for him at the other side.’

Mourinho was honest about his interest (Getty)

However, Parker does not see where the three-time Champions League winner would fit into Mourinho’s team.

‘You have to wonder where Gareth Bale would play,’ the former Manchester United defender told 888sport.

‘There is a lot of talk about getting him because everyone now has to go out and get an expensive player. But you have to look at where you can fit him in to get the best out of him.’

Bale’s agent has rubbished talk of a move (Getty)

Park continued: ‘Gareth likes to play through the middle: he doesn’t like that wide role he had at Tottenham and prefers to step inside. So you’d have to adjust the team. I look at Bale and wonder if he’s a Jose Mourinho type of player because he likes a lot of touches, he wants to run with the ball. At Real Madrid he doesn’t track back so that’s something else he’d have to add to his game. Does he really want to play for Manchester United and have to track back because he hasn’t now for three or four seasons so long as he delivers going the other way.

‘It’s all very well talking about these players but sometimes you have to ask yourself does the player suit the formation and does he even want to play there?’

Manchester United tried to sign Bale when he left Tottenham for Real Madrid, but the former Southampton player was determined to move to the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid have consistently said they have no plans to let Bale leave the Bernabeu, however interest in Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe has led to speculation the Welshman will have to make way to accommodate the French wonderkid.

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Read the full 888sport interview with Paul Parker, including his thoughts on why Mourinho has to deliver this season.