Manchester United Transfer News: Di Maria to Be Sold by Van Gaal to Fund Move for Real Madrid Superstars

Manchester United's quest to land one of Gareth Bale or Cristiano Ronaldo next summer just took a serious twist, with reports suggesting Louis Van Gaal and the English Premier League club are ready to sell their marquee signing of this summer – Angel Di Maria – in order to fund a move for one of the two Real Madrid superstars.

Di Maria made a great start to life with Manchester United , hitting top form by scoring goals and laying on assists in numbers. However, the midfielder's form has dipped a little of late, but that has not led to anything remotely resembling an idea that Manchester United are considering letting Di Maria leave next summer.

However, according to the Daily Express, who cite reports in France, Manchester United are now considering letting Di Maria, who only joined Manchester United from Real Madrid for a British record fee of nearly £60 million a few months back, leave, so that they can fund a move for crowd favourite Ronaldo or Bale.

Manchester United have been heavily linked with a transfer for Ronaldo and Bale in the recent past, with the fans, in particular, clamouring for the return of the former.

Ronaldo and his agent have played down chances of a switch back to Old Trafford, though, which then led to suggestions Manchester United could move for Bale.

Bale has not had the most spectacular starts to the season for Real Madrid, owing largely to injury, which has led to reports claiming that the Spanish giants would be ready to sanction a £90 million sale in the summer.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti had again played down those reports, but that has not stopped the rumours of a possible signing for either doing the rounds.

Di Maria only added fuel to a possible exit fire by admitting he would have liked to play in France, albeit while talking to a French publication.

Paris Saint-Germain were the frontrunners for the signature of Di Maria last summer, before Financial Fairplay Regulations put paid to the French club's hopes of signing the Argentina international.

"PSG had a money problem and they couldn't buy players," Di Maria said in that interview to Telefoot, before adding he could one day play for the Ligue 1 champions.

"It could have been a good experience for me to go to Paris. I know I'm still young, perhaps I'll go to PSG one day. I don't know how it will all end."

For what it's worth, though, Di Maria has, time and again, insisted he is quite happy at his new club, and if Manchester United seal that top four place to ensure a return to the Champions League, then maybe a sale might not be needed to fund a move for one of Ronaldo or Bale.