Manchester United can challenge for title if they sign Gareth Bale in January says Harry Redknapp

Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has claimed that Manchester United can come close to winning the title if they manage to secure the services of Real Madrid star Gareth Bale in the January transfer window. The 26-year-old has long been a transfer target for the Red Devils and continues to be linked with a move to Old Trafford.

According to The Sunday Times, United are ready to pay a world record fee of £90m ($130.75m) to land the Wales international, who is already disappointed after the exit of Rafael Benitez from Santiago Bernabeu. New manager Zinedine Zidane has suggested the forward is a "key player" at Real, despite recent speculations surrounding his future.

United, on the other hand, are fifth on the table with 33 points after 20 matches. They are nine points behind league leaders Arsenal. Redknapp stressed that Bale, who has scored 12 goals and registered seven assists in 14 league appearances can help Louis van Gaal's side challenge for the title if he makes a switch to Old Trafford.

"Gareth Bale is in the top four or five players in the world," Redknapp told BBC Radio 5 Live, as quoted by the Independent.

"He is an amazing talent. If Manchester United took him they could come close to winning the title this year. He can make that much difference."

"Bale is a match-winner. He scores goals and he can make goals. He could go and get them 16 goals or 17 goals from now until the end of the season if he went on a run and he could turn the club around. He would be an incredible signing," he added.

Meanwhile, Marouane Fellaini admitted that United deserved to win their 1-0 FA Cup win over Sheffield United after revealing Nigel Adkins's side made it difficult for the Red Devils at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney's stoppage time goal from the spot kick saw the hosts progress to the next round of the competition.

"It was difficult against a team like that who come to defend. We tried to create chances and we kept the ball well. We had patience and, in the end, we won and we are now ready for the next game," Fellaini told United's official website.

"They defended with 10 players, which is always difficult, and they did well here but they didn't create any chances and we deserved to win," he added.