Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has claimed that the club would be 'nailed-on favourites' to win the Premier League title if they signed Gareth Bale.
Manager Jose Mourinho admitted on Monday that he would "fight other coaches" to sign Bale if Real Madrid made the Welshman available.
The former Tottenham Hotspur star has won eight trophies, including three Champions League crowns, since his £85m transfer in 2013.
In the last four years, Bale has scored 67 goals in 150 appearances for the Spanish outfit, but there are reports that the club may be willing to sell in order to fund a big-money move for AS Monaco's teenage star Kylian Mbappe.
When asked by talkSPORT about a possible swoop for Bale, Fletcher, who now plays for Stoke City, said: "That would put United right up there.
"Not only would they be title favourites, but people would be expecting the title. That is the sort of level that signing is. It is the next-level signing.
"If Gareth could stay fit for a full season and United could sign him, I would personally think that would almost nail them on as favourites for the title."
The North-West outfit have signed Victor Lindelof, Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic so far this summer.
Danielle Joynson
