JOSE WANTS TO PLOT A BALE OUT

FROM BACK PAGE Mourinho convinced he can sign the Wales forward if he does not start tonight’s UEFA Super Cup final.

United believe they can finally land long-term target Bale, 28, this summer, with Mourinho claiming Real’s starting line-up will determine whether he is still wanted by coach Zinedine Zidane.

Asked if he planned to move for Bale, Reds boss Mourinho said: “Well if he’s playing against us, I wouldn’t think of that. If he’s playing, it’s because he’s in the coach’s and club’s plans, and because he has ambition to continue at Real Madrid.

“But if he’s not in the club’s plans and what you’re writing is true – that with the arrival of another player then Gareth would be on his way out of Real – then I would try to be waiting for him on the other side and be fighting with the other coaches who would like to have him on their team.

“If he plays, it would be the best confirmation that he will be staying.”

With Mbappe (above) set to join Real and Bale having lost his place as an automatic pick, there is a feeling at United that they may finally be able to land him for £80m.

And Zidane hardly offered a ringing endorsement of Bale when he said: “Bale is a Real Madrid player, that’s all I can say. That stuff doesn’t interest me very much.”