Manchester United: Red Devils plotting British-record bid to land Real Madrid star James Rodriguez

Manchester United are plotting a British transfer record bid to sign James Rodriguez from Real Madrid following the midfielder's struggles to break into the starting XI on a consistent basis. The Red Devils could be willing to save him from his troubles and give him a fresh start in the English Premier League.

According to Goal, the 20-time English champions have been made aware of his availability by his agent Jorge Mendez, who has a good understanding with United following their interactions during the transfers of Cristiano Ronaldo, David de Gea and more recently Radamel Falcao. The report claims that the club will have to top the record £59.7m ($85m) they paid for Angel Di Maria in 2014 with the move likely to happen in the summer.

The Colombian international has had a difficult time at the club since the arrival of Rafael Benitez in the summer, and it has continued with the arrival of Zinedine Zidane, who has taken over the reins following the sacking of the former Liverpool boss midway through the season. Rodriguez has started just seven league games thus far this campaign and was omitted yet again for the Frenchman's first game in-charge against Deportivo de La Coruna on 10 January.

The lack of regular first-team opportunities this season could tempt the former Porto star to seek a move elsewhere in the summer. Louis van Gaal has indicated that he is keen to add speed and creativity to his team and the Colombian midfielder could be a massive coup for the Old Trafford club next summer.

United have also been linked with Rodriguez's teammate Gareth Bale extensively since last summer, and it is understood that the club are willing to pay a world-record fee of around £90m ($128m) to land the former Tottenham Hotspur star. The Spanish capital club, however, could halt all transfers owing to the recent transfer ban imposed on them by Fifa.