Gareth Bale is a long-term target for Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho hasn’t given up hope of signing Gareth Bale this summer and wants the Red Devils to fund a £500,000-a-week deal for the Welshman, according to reports.

Mourinho, 54, appeared to drop his interest in Bale following United’s Super Cup defeat to Zinedine Zidane’s men because he said the forward’s inclusion in the match showed that he was part of Madrid’s plans.

Bale, for his part, is very happy at the Bernabeu but Zidane’s consistently refused to confirm he will stay with the club and the arrival of Kylian Mbappe from Monaco will complicate Bale’s future.

United have cooled their interest in Inter Milan winger Ivan Perisic because they haven’t given up hope of a stellar signing and Mourinho has been Bale could be available this month, according to the Sun.

Bale is happy to stay at the Bernabeu but Madrid have remained coy on his future (Picture: Getty)

It’s claimed the Portuguese boss believes a huge £500,000-a-week offer could tempt Bale to Old Trafford and United chiefs met yesterday to discuss financing the move.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Wayne Rooney, Morgan Schneiderlin, Memphis Depay and Bastian Schweinsteiger have all been shifted off the wage bill in the last six months and United have significant room to reinvest.

Bale is likely to cost around £100m should he choose to leave the Bernabeu and United would have to match that in wages over a four-year deal to fund the move.

The Welshman praised Mourinho after Madrid’s win in Macedonia and says it’s clear that United are building a team for the future.

‘I think they’re getting there. Obviously by bringing Mourinho in, it’s kind of boosted the club,’ said Bale.

‘It did them good to win a few trophies last year and I think they’re getting back to where they belong.

‘They gave us a difficult game and I see no reason why they can’t be a force in the Champions League this season.’

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