Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has confirmed that he would compete for the signature of Gareth Bale, if Real Madrid opted to let the Welshman leave.

Speculation is rife that Madrid’s interest in the likes of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Monaco’s young superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Football INDEX Watch – Gareth Bale £3.74 – Surely there has to be some value here, and if he moved back to England would be a huge bargain

Bale himself has played down talk of a move, but the links are sure to intensify after Mourinho admitted he would compete to talk him to Old Trafford if the opportunity arose.

“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,” admitted Mourinho.

“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”

Jose Mourinho on Gareth Bale

After claiming his third Champions League title with Madrid in his hometown of Cardiff at the end of last season, he committed his future to the club – having signed a new deal only last October.

Bale was hit by injuries last season and started just 17 times under boss Zinedine Zidane.

Bale is currently odds-on to remain in Madrid at 4/6, but the odds on a summer switch to Old Trafford have come in considerably and he is now 11/8 with SkyBet.

We spoke to SkyBet’s Dale Tempest about the prospect of Bale making a summer move.

“Mourinho sounds like he’s making mischief!” he told TheGamblingTimes.com.

“Of course every coach in the world would like Bale but the reality is despite the price contracting, he is still odds-on to stay a Madrid player.”

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