Real Madrid fans didn't have long to enjoy Gareth Bale's sensational performance against Liverpool before he'd immediately cast doubt on his future.

Off the back of scoring possibly the greatest goal ever seen in a Champions League final - and another helped in by Loris Karius - the Welshman admitted his time at the Bernabeu may well be up.

"I need to be playing week in, week out and that has not happened this season for one reason and another," he told BT Sport within minutes of the final whistle on Saturday night.

"I had a five, six-week injury at the start of the season but I've been fit ever since. I have to sit down with my agent and take it from there."

Even without that fuel being added to the fire, speculation has long linked the former Tottenham superstar with a move to Manchester United.

Bale just missed out on working with Jose Mourinho in the Spanish capital as their paths narrowly avoided each other in 2013.

However, as the Red Devils look to make a marquee signing in order to close the gap on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, the 28-year-old is thought to be high on their list.

Real are tough negotiators 

There are only a handful of things that could put Ed Woodward off.

The forward's goal tally isn't one of them, as he contributed 16 La Liga goals in just 20 starts over the 2017/18 season.

There has to be a question mark against his persistent injuries, though, and the transfer could also prove too expensive.

According to the Mirror, Florentino Perez is demanding double what his club forked out for Bale five years ago, which means United could be set back by over £160million.

That moment of magic, the inspiration of his glorious overhead kick, has seen his value rocket, but those sums would make him the second most expensive player of all time after Neymar.

Add his £650,000-a-week wages on top and we're talking some rather eye-watering amounts of money.

The rumour mill has also mooted the possibility of a return to Spurs, but it goes without saying that they will be priced out at this rate.

Indeed, he may even be out of United's budget and could therefore be forced to stay at Real, with only Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain able to afford such staggering fees.

Should Bale join Man United this summer? Have your say in the comments.