Manchester United 'still in the running for Gareth Bale'

Manchester United are reportedly still in the hunt for Gareth Bale despite the Real Madrid attacker's agent claiming that the Welshman is closing in on a return to Tottenham Hotspur.

Bale is widely expected to leave Madrid before the transfer deadline at the start of October, and the 31-year-old's agent Jonathan Barnett said on Wednesday that a return to Tottenham was "close".

However, according to AS, United are still in the running for the Wales international and could yet beat Spurs to his signature despite losing ground over the last 24 hours.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side continue to be linked with Jadon Sancho, but the English giants are struggling to reach an agreement with Borussia Dortmund over the England international.

As a result, the Red Devils are said to be exploring other options and could therefore make a late attempt to sign Bale from under the noses of his former club.

The former Southampton youngster has a contract at the Bernabeu until June 2022 but is surplus to requirements in the Spanish capital, having fallen out of favour under Zinedine Zidane.