Kylian Mbappé development pushes Gareth Bale towards Real Madrid exit, report claims

Surprise, surprise: Kylian Mbappé has a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid.

Or at least, that's what Marca are reporting on Thursday... The development comes less than 24 hours after reports in France claimed the 18-year-old had informed Monaco that he wished to leave the club before the end of the summer window. The European champions have been linked with a big money move for Mbappé all summer and are now almost certain to step up their pursuit for the French international in the coming days. https://twitter.com/GaffneyVLC/status/893130001402531842 Interestingly, the Marca report also suggests that Mbappé's arrival will also see Zinedine Zidane offload one of his forwards - with Gareth Bale seen as the most likely to depart the Bernabeu. Despite playing a major part in Real Madrid's three Champions League successes in the last four seasons, the Welshman has repeatedly been linked with a return to the Premier League this summer after enduring an injury-hit campaign last season. Predictably, Manchester United are said to be interested in a move for Bale, who they attempted to sign before his move to Spain from Tottenham in 2013. Jose Mourinho is keen to recruit a winger before the close of the summer window and with negotiations for Inter Milan's Ivan Perisic seemingly stalling, a move for Bale might now be a possibility. If United decide to move for the player, they're unlikely to have a clean run at him. Chelsea, who signed Alvaro Morata from Real only weeks ago, are also said to be interested.