Manchester United will reportedly use David de Gea as bait in a last-ditch effort to sign Gareth Bale from Real Madrid.
The Red Devils have been linked with the Welshman in the last couple of weeks as the club hunt for a new attacking star.
Madrid are keen to sign De Gea, who has not played a single competitive game for United this season as manager Louis van Gaal believes that his goalkeeper is not in the right frame of mind due to the speculation.
According to ESPN, United are confident that they can use Madrid's interest in De Gea as leverage in negotiations to sign Bale.
However, there has been no public indication from the former Tottenham Hotspur star that he intends to leave the Bernabeu before the transfer window closes next Tuesday.
Bale cost Madrid a world-record £85m fee in the summer of 2013.
