Manchester United end interest in Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale?

Manchester United have reportedly ended their interest in Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale.

The Wales international has been frequently linked with an exit from the Bernabeu, and that speculation has intensified since the return of head coach Zinedine Zidane.

Manchester United have been long-term admirers of the attacker, although there has always been a question mark over what the Premier League outfit would be prepared to spend on the left-footer and the size of Bale's wage demands.

According to the Daily Star, those two factors have resulted in United chief executive Ed Woodward opting against a summer approach for the 29-year-old.

The report indicates that Woodward is against buying another high-profile player without a resale value, as well as handing another squad member a lucrative wage packet.