Manchester United are reportedly prepared to pay club record fee for Gareth Bale

And it begins

Many people will have been surprised to see Gareth Bale issue quite an explicit come and get me plea immediately after the final whistle of Saturday night's Champions League final, but it should come as a huge shock. Bale has not been content at Real Madrid for a couple of seasons now, after losing his place in the starting line up to Isco during his time on the sidelines and struggling to get it back due to the Spaniard's exceptional form, particularly towards the end of the 2016/17 season. Bale explained his frustrations after scoring one of the great Champions League final goals and securing Madrid's fourth Champions League in five years. "Obviously I was very disappointed not to start the game, I felt I deserved it but the manager makes the decisions," Bale told BT Sport.

"I need to be playing week in, week out and that has not happened this season. "I had an injury five, six weeks in but I've been fit ever since. I have to sit down with my agent in the summer and discuss it."

There are a finite number of clubs who would be able to pay Bale's high wages, reported to be around £350k per week, and fit him into their squad. Manchester United are one of the main candidates. They have always been keen on bringing Bale to Old Trafford. They could finally get their man this summer, as Spanish newspaper AS report that they are preparing a bid in the region of £120m - which would eclipse the £90m fee United paid for Paul Pogba in 2016. Bale has also been linked with a return to former club Tottenham Hotspur. But they are unlikely to match Real Madrid's asking price or be prepared to meet Bale's wage demands.