Odds Slashed For Ronaldo Joining United But £85m Bale Eyed As Back-Up Option

With the summer transfer window set to open, there is plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Man Utd are linked with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

The odds of Cristiano Ronaldo joining Manchester United have been slashed after the forward denied he had agreed to sign a new deal at Real Madrid, according to the Mirror.

Ronaldo’s future has filled the back pages in recent weeks after doubts emerged over his long-term future in Spain and a possible return to England has been mooted.

The Mirror claim that Madrid president Florentino Perez leaked news earlier this week that suggested the 27-year-old had agreed terms over a new lucrative contract that would keep him at the Bernabeu until 2018. However, the Portuguese ace has denied those reports insisting any news regarding an extension with Real are false. He used his official Twitter account to set the record straight on Thursday:

“All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid are false.”

The Mirror claims that since Ronaldo’s denial the odds of him making a sensational return to Old Trafford this summer have tumbled to give United fans renewed hope that a deal could be struck.

The newspaper believes that new United boss David Moyes is hopeful he can persuade the Portuguese attacker to abandon plans to see-out the remaining two-years of his Madrid contract and return to Manchester this summer – four years after making an £80m move to the Spanish giants.

Bale the back-up option

However, should United fail to lure Ronaldo back, the Sun claim the champions will turn their attentions to Tottenham Hotspur ace Gareth Bale and are ready to test the north Londoners with a world record £85m bid.

The report suggests United are keen to make a statement of intent to convince fans there is life after Sir Alex Ferguson with the board ready to sanction a big-money transfer. Ronaldo is understood to be the No.1 target but if things don’t work out then it seems they will make a move for Bale.

Understandably, Spurs are desperate to hang on to their star man but if United did table an £85m offer it may prove too tempting for chairman Daniel Levy to turn down.

The problem for Spurs fans is that even if United do manage to land Ronaldo and subsequently end their interest in Bale, that would leave Real Madrid with a wad of cash in the bank and a position on the left side of their attack to fill, and it would almost certainly result in them upping their efforts to sign the Welshman, so it’s almost a lose-lose situation for Andre Villas-Boas men.

Read more Man Utd transfer news | Spurs transfer news

What do United fans think; would you like to see Ronaldo or Bale sign this summer? What about Spurs supporters; do you think you’ll be able to hang on to Bale? Get involved in the comments section below.