Bale has endured an injury-hit four-year spell at Real Madrid, missing 40 per cent of their games through a succession of niggles.

And Jose Mourinho revealed during the last transfer window that he’d be happy to offer the winger a route away from the Bernabeu.

Bale ultimately stayed put after being deployed in Real’s UEFA Super Cup win over United in Macedonia.

Mourinho is undeterred by his insistence that he’s happy in Spain though and Express Sport understands Old Trafford chiefs would sanction a deal for the Welshman, even with his injury record.

The Sun indicate United are ready to begin negotiations with Real if the La Liga giants show a willingness to do business around the £50m mark.

And the newspaper say the Red Devils are also interested in nabbing Antoine Griezmann from their cross-city rivals, Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann looked to be on course for United this year but opted to stay put when Atletico’s transfer ban was upheld.

He’s believed to have told team-mates that he regrets his decision though, even after signing a new deal tying him down until 2021.

United have apparently begun working towards an agreement for Griezmann, with talks held with Atletico during the international break.

Griezmann’s release clause will drop from £172m to £86m at the end of the current campaign.

Although The Sun claim the figure discussed with Atletico over the past two weeks is less than the £86m United were willing to pay this summer.

United may face competition from Barcelona if their pursuit of Griezmann seriously hots up.

Meanwhile, Tottenham have first refusal on Bale per the terms of the deal that took him to Madrid in 2013.