Manchester United will pull the plug on signing Gareth Bale — unless the price is right.
The Wales forward is set to be offloaded by Real Madrid as the Spanish giants raise cash to sign £220million Brazilian Neymar and Manchester City attacker Kevin De Bruyne.
Madrid want £100m for former Tottenham star Bale, but the numbers simply don’t stack up now for United.
Bale will turn 29 next July, is on £350,000 a week at the Bernabeu and has been dogged by injury problems.
But the £100m-plus United were once willing to pay is no longer on the table, and Old Trafford chiefs will now only do business in a cut-price deal.
United see Bale’s price on par with goalkeeper David de Gea .
The Spain No.1, a long-term target for Real Madrid, is valued at around £50m-£60m.
The Red Devils have been interested in Bale – who is contracted to Madrid until 2022 – since he was a kid at Southampton and have been trying to bring him back to the Premier League for the last two years.
Bale returned from a two-month injury absence with a groin problem by coming off the bench to help Madrid draw with third division minnows Fuenlabrada last Tuesday as they progressed in the Copa del Rey.
But he picked up a minor calf strain and missed Saturday night’s La Liga clash at Athletic Bilbao.
It is the 20th different injury he has suffered during his time in Spain.
* JOSE MOURINHO has blocked any move away from Old Trafford on loan in the new year for Manchester United youngster Scott McTominay.
The 20-year-old midfielder has been attracting interest from Scottish giants Rangers as well as a handful of Championship clubs.