Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale would be a "perfect fit" for Liverpool, says the club's former midfielder Paul Ince.

Bale, 30, is "very close to leaving" Real according to manager Zinedine Zidane, who has been called "a disgrace" by the Wales forward's agent.

Ince says Bale should "re-invent himself" and play regular football rather than pursue high wages with a move to the Chinese Super League.

"My opinion is if Liverpool can afford him, he should go there," said Ince.

In a debate over Bale's future on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Ince and former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison said Zidane will win a power struggle at Madrid and force the former Tottenham player into a move.

"Liverpool's front three haven't had much rest before the season - Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane have played all over the summer," added 51-year-old Ince, who played 81 times for Liverpool between 1997 and 1999.

"Bale can play right, left or central. If I was looking at a team if they could afford him, it would be Liverpool. He needs to re-invent himself as a player and play football week in, week out.

"He would have to take a massive wage drop. It can't be about money for Bale. He has to go to a team who can win things. Liverpool are European champions and they want to make a massive challenge in the league again.

"Who else could afford him? Man City maybe, Man United and I don't think Tottenham would be the right club. I would like to see him at Liverpool. He still has four or five years left. I think he'd be a perfect fit."

'Only one winner in power struggle'

Bale has been linked with Manchester United, Tottenham, German champions Bayern Munich and a move to the Chinese Super League, where he could earn a reported £1m a week.

Zidane, meanwhile, has been linked with moves for United's Paul Pogba and Tottenham's Christian Eriksen.

"It's a poker hand where Zidane is trying to move him out," said Hutchison, 48. "Zidane wants money to bring in other players. It's a power struggle but there will only be one winner - Zidane. So Bale has to find somewhere he wants to play.

"For Gareth, he has to go to somewhere where he is at the elite level and China is not in my opinion.

"We have all been there. I remember being at West Ham in my second spell. I had two years on my contract and West Ham got relegated. They had to get rid of big earners and it was clear at boardroom level they wanted me off the books.

"I was getting divorced at the time and had two years on the deal. They said they'd give me 50% of my wages to go on a free and play football. I said I was staying and they literally gave it a week and said we will give you 70%. I said it wasn't money and said I literally can't afford to move as I was getting divorced."

'Personal pride can come into play'

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Bale has scored 102 goals in 231 games for Real during six seasons in which he has won the Champions League four times, La Liga and the Copa Del Rey.

Despite that success, Zidane has said it will be "best for everyone" if he leaves, a move Ince believes is "quite disrespectful".

"There are ways of doing it the right way and showing him respect," said Ince. "What Bale has done is phenomenal.

"I was at Manchester United for six years, had just signed a four-year contract and Sir Alex Ferguson tells me they have accepted a bid from Inter Milan.

"I was happy in Manchester and didn't want to go. I hadn't thought of leaving. Sir Alex said they needed the money for the training ground and they had Nicky Butt coming through. I just felt when a club doesn't want you they don't want you. So I went of my own accord.

"When I went to Liverpool, Gerard Houllier forced me out and it was more a personal pride that if someone doesn't want you at the club I thought I'm not here to force my way back, I'll go and find someone who wants me."

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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says winning the Ballon d'Or would be "a big honour" but he can still get better.

Van Dijk, 28, is one of the favourites to win the award for the world's best player after being instrumental in Liverpool's Champions League victory and Premier League title challenge.

"If I am rewarded for the season I had last year that would be unbelievable and I would be so proud," he said.

"But I feel there is still more to come. I can get more out of me."

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Van Dijk has been an integral part of Jurgen Klopp's side's improvement since joining from Southampton for £75m - a world-record fee for a defender - in January 2018.

He won last season's Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award and was also named the BBC Sport website's player of the year.

But the Netherlands captain says he is a harsh critic of his own game and will demand more from himself this season to try to win more trophies.

"Obviously, it is a big honour to be named as one of the favourites to win such a prestigious award but what can I do? I just get on with playing," he told BBC Sport.

"I am very hard on myself. I know the slightest loss of concentration, the slightest mistake will be punished. I try to limit it as much as possible.

"I have always been very critical of myself and I like the people around me to be critical too. And they are, the manager is as well, which is a good thing.

"I have improved since I joined Liverpool. Last year I am very satisfied with the fact that I played so many games on a consistent level, I am very proud of that fact. On a critical part I could have done more on attacking set-pieces, been more dangerous. It is not easy, I try to work on it.

"I feel there is still more to come. That comes from playing games. In my position it is all about experience as well. Playing games, staying fit, and that will hopefully bring success for the team."

Liverpool are fighting on seven fronts this season - including a December trip to Qatar for the Club World Cup - and such is Manchester City's form over the past two years that Van Dijk believes Liverpool may need to match their record haul of 97 points from last term to challenge for a first Premier League title again.

"You have to do a similar number again, look at City they are a fantastic team," he said.

"Every Liverpool fan dreams of the Premier League. Everyone is waiting for it. We were so close last year, unfortunately it didn't happen but the only thing we can do is go for it.

"There are so many games. Our December period is a madness, basically.

"Last season we lost only one game, we did everything we could but City were just a little bit better than us.

"We have to respect that as well. We are going to try and do even better than last year."

Liverpool conclude a three-match tour of the United States on Wednesday, when they face Sporting Lisbon at New York's Yankee Stadium.

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Former Liverpool captain Paul Ince believes Anfield would be the perfect destination for Gareth Bale

Former Liverpool captain Paul Ince believes Anfield would be the perfect destination for Gareth Bale

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На двоих Робертсон и Арнольд в прошедшем сезоне АПЛ сделали 29 голевых передач во всех соревнованиях. Шотландец считает, что успехи команды были бы невозможны без ошеломительного прогресса Арнольда.

Трент провел выдающийся сезон, но в концовке он вышел на другой уровень и стал лучшим правым защитником в мире. В последних 10 матчах он был практически нашим самым главным игроком.

Ближе к концу сезона мы заметили, что соперники стали нас больше опекать. Мы должны к этому привыкнуть, но если кто-то отвлекается на нас с Трентом, то это значит, что у других игроков есть свободное пространство. Всегда себя может проявить кто-то другой.

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Было ли это слишком? Я думаю, да. Это позорный момент. Это всего лишь товарищеский матч. Не так часто видишь красные карточки в таких играх, не так ли? Такие моменты разочаровывают.

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Он в хорошей форме. В Сенегале был праздник, и я был рад этому, потому что это показывает, что они уважают турнир и расценивают второе место как успех. Это здорово.

Теперь Садио в отпуске – не самом продолжительном. Он вернётся к нам 5 августа, после матча с «Манчестер Сити». У него будет четыре или пять дней на подготовку к «Норвичу» и 10 дней – к «Челси».

Напомним, Садио Мане вместе со сборной Сенегала дошел до финала Кубка Африканских Наций, где уступил сборной Алжира (1:0). 

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