Gareth Bale would 'walk into Man United team' but 'wouldn't get a game at Arsenal'

The former Tottenham star is unlikely to make that switch, of course, but former Gunner Jack Wilshere believes it's an indication that the Welshman may be better off elsewhere - although Dean Saunders claims he'd start for Manchester United.

Bale's Real Madrid contract expires on June 30 and will leave the Spanish champions after nine trophy-laden years at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Wales international has been linked with moves back to the Premier League and, most recently, a move to hometown club Cardiff City in the Championship.

A return to Spurs has also been mooted, but former Wales striker Saunders - who was full of superlatives for Bale's abilities - insisted Newcastle and Man United should be in the mix to land the 32-year-old.

United are yet to make any summer signings following Erik ten Hag's appointment, and while the Red Devils target a host of the manager's old Ajax players, Saunders says Bale would 'walk' into their first XI.

He told Jamie O'Hara on The Sports Bar: "I think whoever he plays for he can score all types of goals can't he? Free kicks, headers, tap-ins, volleys. He can score all types of goals, so I think Newcastle will be perfect for him.

"If he was on the bench at Man City he'd come on and have an impact. If he was on the bench at Liverpool he'd have an impact. Man United should be trying to sign him. He's got a good attitude. He'd walk in their team."

A surprised O 'Hara then questioned whether Bale starts ahead of Jadon Sancho at United, but Saunders was in no doubt that the Welshman topples the former Borussia Dortmund ace in a battle for a starting spot.

"Yeah, we're talking about a freak of nature, he's not an ordinary player," Saunders added. "He's not like an ordinary Premier League player, Gareth Bale.

"He's got five European Cup winners medals. He's got Wales to the Euros on his own, he got Wales to the World Cup on his own. Eighty five percent of the goals we've scored since he's been playing for Wales, he's involved or he's scored them."

But not everyone is in the Bale camp as staunchly as Saunders, not least former Arsenal man Wilshere who revealed he would not take Bale at the Emirates Stadium - and not just because of his Spurs links.

When quizzed on the matter on Drivetime, the ex-Gunner replied: "No.

"I see the players who would be playing in that position and they are young players who have arguably been Arsenal's best players over the last few years.

"So I don't think he'd get in, I don't think he gets a game and if he does, I think he'd be holding one of those players back."

It remains to be seen where Bale's next destination lies, but regular football and optimal fitness levels will be a key factor with one eye on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar which kicks off in November.