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The Sun are reporting that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United are lining up a summer transfer for Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale.

What's the word, then?

Per the original report, the wantaway Welsh international is one of a series of names on the Old Trafford club's radar for after the end of the season, already handed to Ed Woodward.

Bale is no stranger to United as the pair have met on numerous occasions, mostly during the 29-year-old's time at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Before that, the left winger, who can also play out on the right or as a forward, progressed through the academy at Southampton.

He got his big move to north London in 2007 and then a switch to Madrid, where he has netted 102 times in 225 appearances so far, for a then-world-record-fee of £85.3 million.

Look beyond the name, a better option is out there

In this case, the Red Devils must look beyond the glitzy name of Bale as there is a better option out there, Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho - another rumoured target.

The former Manchester City man is a full ten years younger than Bale, so has the potential to be a key player in the north west for longer.

And if Woodward is seeking a left winger who can operate on the opposite flank as well as a series of other attacking positions in Bale, Sancho can do exactly the same.

The 19-year-old is as versatile as they come, able to play both right and left wing and essentially a much fresher version of the Wales star.

They both could cost roughly the same fee, meaning that there could be no significant increase on what they are prepared to spend on Bale, compared to Sancho.

This is a no-brainer if there ever was one for the Man United hierarchy, a chance to really think about the future and display to fans that a long-term vision is in place.

One would feel that, with plenty of other areas needing recruitment in the summer and without the bottomless funds of a Man City, Solskjaer won't be able to sign both and he must make the right decision.