Man Utd put off from signing Bale because of his damaging injury record (Mail)

Manchester United have been put off signing Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale because of his damaging injury record.

Real Madrid are willing to let 30-year-old Bale leave the Bernabeu in January and are interested in offering him as a makeweight to bring long-time Paul Pogba to Spain.

But United, who have been stung in recent times by bringing in older players like Alexis Sanchez and Bastian Schweinsteiger, are reluctant to offer the Wales international a lifeline despite his X-factor appeal.

Bale has suffered 21 different injuries as a Real Madrid player and has been nicknamed 'The Glass' because of a series of ankle and calf problems.

He's only played seven times for Zinedine Zidane's team this season and United insiders feel he needs to be 100 per cent right to feature in games - drawing comparisons to former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to build his side around Pogba who came through the academy before re-signing from Juventus.

But there is also an acceptance that the French World Cup winner may justifiably be sold in the summer if his form doesn't match up to his reputation.

United are already in the process of trying to identify who they should be signing next summer and would ideally want to sort out of their business in the early months of next year.

They play Norwich on Sunday in the bottom half of the Premier League table and without a league win away from Old Trafford this season.