Manchester United are preparing a big transfer, astronomical offer for Welshman Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspurs £ 60million.

Manchester  United are set to launch a mammoth bid for Tottenham winger Gareth Bale as David Moyes sets about moves to bring in summer additions to strengthen his Old Trafford squad.

Understands that the Premier League title holders have deliberately held back on expressing any concrete interest in the 23 year old Welsh international as the club had hoped to lure former attacker Cristiano Ronaldo back from Real Madrid. However secret talks between outgoing chief executive David Gill and Bernabeu president Florentino Perez appear to left Man United realising that such a move would be next to impossible.

This has led Manchester United to direct their attention to Gareth Bale, with Sir Alex Ferguson advising his board to dig deep and make a substantial offer for the Tottenham star, especially now that the North London club have failed to secure a Champions League berth for the coming season.

But David Moyes, the new United boss, won’t want to be left at the starting gate in the chase for the league’s outstanding performer, especially if Wayne Rooney doesn’t withdraw his transfer request and ends up leaving.

Chelsea are in the box seat for the England talisman who has fallen out of favour with Sir Alex Ferguson but is hoping for a clean start under Moyes with the issue top of his in-tray when he takes over on July 1.

Bale, who Fergie failed to sign when he was at Southampton, was originally a left-back but has now emerged as a pacy match-winning left winger.

He can also play in a central free role behind a striker.

Buoyed by the completion of a number of big money sponsorship deals Manchester  United’s board are keen to bring in a ‘Marquee’ signing this summer as something of a statement of intent to help alleviate any talk of uncertainty at the club following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson after 26 years at the helm, moves to sign a big name are perhaps even more pressing given that Wayne Rooney has put in a verbal transfer request.

David Moyes has earmarked moves to bring in more effective wide attacking options given the fairly average campaigns the likes of Luis Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Nani have had this season and the Toffees boss is keen to see Welshman Bale pursued by his new employers.