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Transfer gossip column: Manchester United to splurge £75M on Bale

Sergio Perez / Reuters

This is not the place for legitimate reports and completed deals. Here, we compile the ludicrous transfer rumours that arise during this month of madness in the football world. Each day until the January window shuts, theScore will provide a rundown of the most outlandish babble from the backpages, briefing you on the transfer gossip throughout Europe.

If you're searching for a list of finalised transfers from each of Europe's top-five domestic leagues, the following pages have you covered:

And now, back to the rumour mill.

Manchester United ready bid exceeding £75 million for Gareth Bale

The firing of Rafa Benitez at Real Madrid has left Gareth Bale heartbroken, wandering the streets of the Spanish capital listlessly and mistaking every face for that of his old boss. As a result, Manchester United is apparently trying to be the Welshman's rebound.

According to the Mirror and Daily Mail, the Red Devils are preparing to woo Los Blancos with an offer of more than £75 million for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur man, hoping Bale could be the next darling of Stretford.

Exactly how the versatile attacker would adapt to Louis van Gaal's game plan of passing sideways and lulling the Old Trafford faithful into a deep sleep is a matter of debate.

Arsenal looks to Watford's Troy Deeney to bolster attacking options

Arsene Wenger has been struck by several revelations this season, such as the diminishing importance of possession in the Premier League, and now he could be set for hoof-ball if the Daily Star is to be believed.

Watford's brutish forward Troy Deeney does show some panache at times with the ball at his feet, but his strength and aerial presence - he is second only to Aston Villa's Rudy Gestede in aerial duels won - are his main assets. It is these attributes that allegedly have Arsenal sniffing.

According to the Telegraph, Deeney will cost £20 million.

Lopez out, Capoue in at AC Milan

AC Milan is rumoured to be open to offloading 34-year-old goalkeeper Diego Lopez during the January transfer window since he's fallen out of favour behind teenage shot-stopper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Everton - clearly not content with having just one flailing veteran in Tim Howard - and Bournemouth are in for the former Real Madrid man, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.

Watford is clearly uncomfortable with a surge up the table, with Tuttosport speculating in-form Etienne Capoue could leave for Milan following six months at Vicarage Road.

Big Sam eyes Big Andy

Of Sunderland's forwards, it appears Jermain Defoe is the only one who can find the onion bag, so Sam Allardyce is looking to bring it back to basics with the pricey purchase of West Ham's Andy Carroll.

According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers want to recoup much of the £18-million outlay they spent on the striker in 2013 - by one Mr. Allardyce - with current manager Slaven Bilic apparently concerned over Carroll's lifestyle.

The 26-year-old's prolificacy in the air could see Allardyce return to a game plan of old, with Carroll assuming a role reminiscent of Kevin Davies' time at Bolton Wanderers in the mid-noughties.

Ronaldinho assessing offers from numerous English clubs

The Times reports that Ronaldinho is looking to go out with a bang.

He of the formerly dazzling feet and infectious grin is now 35 and a bleary-eyed Fluminense reject, but his brother says a host of English clubs are chasing his signature.

Good luck with that.

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