How United could line up if they complete stunning Bale signing.
With news that Manchester United are targeting Real Madrid star Gareth Bale as an alternative to his team-mate and their former hero Cristiano Ronaldo, CaughtOffside looks at a potential XI Louis van Gaal could field next season if the club do sign the Welshman.
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Some big names have to drop out of the starting lineup to accommodate the 25-year-old, who is certainly the calibre of player worth building a team around, though this may also require a formation change from the United boss.
See below as we fit Bale into a new-look 4-2-3-1 formation without the likes of Juan Mata, Robin van Persie and Adnan Januzaj:
Goalkeeper and defence:
Although van Gaal has often shown a preference for a back three, United have arguably looked better since recently changing to a straightforward four at the back, and that is how they should line up here with Rafael, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Luke Shaw the first choice in front of goalkeeper David de Gea.