Bale signing would transform United

Harry Redknapp believes Manchester United can still win the Premier League this season – if boss Louis Van Gaal signs Gareth Bale.

The Wales forward, who used to play under Redknapp at Tottenham, scored a stunning hat–trick in Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge of Real Madrid against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday night.

While the Welshman was thrilling the crowd at the Bernabeu, 900 miles away in Manchester Van Gaal’s team were serving up their latest drab offering — this time against Sky League One side Sheffield United in the FA Cup.

It looked like they were heading for an eighth goalless stalemate of the season, but luckily for Van Gaal, Memphis Depay was tripped in the box in injury time and Wayne Rooney fired home from the penalty spot.

United fans are becoming tired of the boring, predictable football on show at Old Trafford this term. Redknapp believes Bale can provide them with the attacking flair and penetration they so desperately need.

“Gareth Bale is in the top four or five players in the world,” Redknapp said. “He’s an amazing talent. If Manchester United took him they could come close to winning the title this year. He can make that much difference.”

United tried to buy Bale, who has scored 12 league goals for Madrid this season, just before he left for the Spanish capital and executive vice–chairman Ed Woodward would not be able to resist the temptation to bid for the Welshman again if he intimated he wanted to return to England.