Manchester United decline to sign Gareth Bale

Manchester United have reportedly turned down the opportunity to sign Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale in any kind of deal this summer.

Bale was ommitted from Los Blancos' pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich on Saturday and Zinedine Zidane thereafter confirmed that the attacker was on the verge of leaving the club.

As such, there has been speculation that United may be among the contenders but Evening Standard claims that the club hold no interest in signing the Welshman on either a loan or permanent deal.

United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been aiming to reduce the average age of the first-team squad this summer and reports suggest that could be the prime reason behind the club's reluctance to sign the 30-year-old.

The Mancunian giants are currently on the cusp of pursuing the signature of Harry Maguire from Leicester City. They have already landed the services of Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Swansea City and Crystal Palace respectively this summer.