Luke’s looking Shaw to stay
Wales legend Thomas challenges Bale EXCLUSIVE FULHAM VAN PUSH Wilf to Turk the exit door
GARETH BALE has been told to abandon the riches and palatial lifestyle of Real Madrid for a Premier League winner’s medal.
During his five years at the Bernabeu, Bale has won the Champions League four times and La Liga once and commands a salary of around £600,000 a week.
But fellow Welshman Mickey Thomas believes the 28-year-old forward’s CV won’t be complete without a domestic title-winning gong.
Bale and his advisers are preparing for crucial talks with the Real Madrid hierarchy over his future under new manager Julen Lopetegui.
And Thomas insists: “If he wants a real challenge and is serious about playing regularly, then I would tell him to come back and play in the Premier League.” As a football-mad youngster, Bale knew all about the wing wizardry of former Manchester United and Wales star Thomas.
Now, Thomas – a regular pundit for MUTV, the Old Trafford club’s in-house station – would love to see Bale follow in his footsteps.
“He’s got enough money,” said Thomas. “Surely now it’s not how much he can earn. His CV would LUKE SHAW will return to pre-season training this week as he chases a new long-term deal at Manchester United.
The defender enters the be enriched and complete with a Premier League winner’s medal. I’d argue that is worth more than all the money he gets.
“OK, I know he has won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, but he hasn’t won the Premier League.
Speculation
“I wouldn’t want to finish a career like his without a Premier League winner’s medal.
“Unfortunately, he’s had Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar blocking his path to becoming the best player in the world.
“If he came to England and started doing the business, winning trophies in this country, then it will have been the perfect career.
“He could go to Germany and play for Bayern Munich, but it’s time to prove himself in the Premier League.
“I don’t think there’s any chance of him returning to Tottenham, so there’s a great opportunity for my old club final year of his current contract today after an extension was automatically triggered by the club.
Shaw, 22, joined the Red Devils four years ago in a £30million deal from Southampton but has struggled since. He had Manchester United to sign him. There’s been speculation virtually every summer about Bale coming to Old Trafford.
“This time is probably the best chance of it happening.
“I would love to see him here. He’s a match-winner, he’s got pace, he’s got goals in him – and that’s what United need.
“It’s just a pity, from United’s and the Premier League’s point of view, that Zinedine Zidane walked out on Real Madrid.
“If he had stayed, Bale would definitely have been on his way because there was a problem.
“It seemed that Zidane didn’t really fancy him and Bale was becoming frustrated.
“He showed what he is capable of in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
“That overhead-kick goal was world class. He would give Jose Mourinho’s side the X factor.
“They weren’t afraid to pay out big wages for Alexis Sanchez, so why not do the same with Bale?
“If United want to get to the next level, then he is the one.” been widely tipped to move on after being repeatedly called out by boss Jose Mourinho over his conditioning.
Matters were not helped in midweek when he was pictured on social media enjoying the final few days of a summer break in Ibiza – just as Ashley Young, his rival for the left-back spot at Old Trafford, was hard at work for England at the World Cup.
Shaw will go into preseason towards the end of this week before jetting off with United on a tour of the US later this month. LIVERPOOL have resumed talks with Lyon over a deal for Nabil Fekir.
A £53million move fell apart at the start of June amid concerns over the playmaker’s medical.
But with negotiations restarting within the last few days, the belief is that Fekir can finally become a Liverpool player once he returns from the World Cup with France.
Kop boss Jurgen Klopp was left frustrated after the Anfield medical team identified issues with one of the 24-year-old’s knees following surgery for a torn cruciate ligament.
Liverpool tried to renegotiate the transfer FULHAM will make a fresh £14million bid this week for WOLVES winger Ivan Cavaleiro.
Wanderers have already knocked back an approach from Huddersfield for the Portuguese.
But fellow Premier League new boys Fulham remain keen and plan to increase their offer in order to seal a club record deal.