Manchester United are concerned they cannot sign Gareth Bale without sending David de Gea in the opposite direction to Real Madrid.

The Mirror says Jose Mourinho and United transfer negotiator Ed Woodward are excited at developments over Bale's future at the Bernabeu believing they will have their best chance so far of finally landing the 28-year-old Welshman next summer.

But their optimism has been tempered by word from Madrid that if the Spanish giants are prepared to sell £85million Bale they will want keeper De Gea in return.

That's left Mourinho in a dilemma.

For while he believes signing Bale would be a game changer for United giving them a genuine world class star he doesn't want to lose De Gea.

It is a problem for Mourinho but the chance to sign Bale may prove irresistable.