United ready to stump up for Bale

Baby Beckham: Gareth Bale is being chased by several Premiership clubs
14 April 2012

Manchester United believe they are leading the race to sign highly-rated Southampton left back Gareth Bale.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been impressed by the 17-year-old's performances for his club and for Walesand is considering bidding £7m for him in the January transfer window.

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• Fergie denies spending limit

It is understood that if United do sign Bale then they will loan him back to Southampton for the rest of the season - and perhaps next season as well.

Fergusonis aware of the impressive football education the teenager is receiving at St Mary's Stadium from Southampton manager George Burley.

And the United manager does not want to interrupt that process until United are in a position to offer him first-team football themselves.

Currently United are well covered at left-back, with Gabriel Heinze and Patrice Evra fighting it out for the regular position with Mikael Silvestre also available in the Premiership leaders' squad.

But such is Bale's promise that Ferguson believes he can be a United regular for ten years if he can clinch his signature.

Highly rated also by Wales manager John Toshack, Bale is a developing defender with an ability to take dead ball kicks that has seen him labelled the "David Beckham of full-backs".

At Southamptonhe is rated even more highly than Theo Walcott, who was snapped up by Arsenal last season.

Such has been the recent interest in Bale that Southampton manager Burley has stopped taking phone calls about him.

He said: "Gareth is a special one - he's got attributes even the country's top players haven't got. His ability with free kicks from out wide or around the box is just like David Beckham.

"I was at Chelsea's game against Arsenal and saw Ashley Cole playing very well. But I know Gareth is going to be better than him.

"He can be better than any left-back anywhere - he is the best of all."

Ferguson has so far arranged the loan signing of Henrik Larsson from Swedish club Helsingborgs for January.

But the Scot has been told by United that there is money to spend if he wishes to add to his squad.

The current feeling of urgency regarding Bale has been caused by increasing fears that any delay may see them beaten to the punch by another club.

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