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Paper Round: Manchester United 'making their move for Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo'

Ryan Rosenblatt

Updated 24/07/2015 at 07:47 GMT

After months of speculation, the Red Devils are reportedly set to swoop to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Image credit: AFP

Manchester United pursuing Ronaldo - Manchester United want to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club and are getting ready to make a move for the superstar, according to The Manchester Evening News. The Red Devils are looking to set a new transfer record to bring Ronaldo back to the club six years after selling him to Real Madrid. Ronaldo and new Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez are not getting along so United think they have a chance.
Paper Round's view - This is it: the transfer rumour motherload. Ronaldo returning to Manchester United sounds great in theory, and the Red Devils could probably come up with the money to get it done - and the fact that this comes from a very strong source such as the Manchester Evening News adds huge weight to the story. Realistically, though, it seems that there are just too many hurdles. In addition to the giant price tag - for Real would have to demand £100 million or more, if not for the sake of value then to stop fan outrage at the deal being done - there's the problem of convincing Real Madrid to part with their key player. Then there are the ongoing difficulties United are already having with Real Madrid over David De Gea and Sergio Ramos, rocky transfers which will hardly help smooth the deal. If push came to shove, Real would fire probably Benitez instead of selling Ronaldo.
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Wenger cleared to break Arsenal transfer record - Arsenal have plenty of money to spend. The Mail has been told that the Gunners have £200m sitting in the bank and the club's chairman, Lord Harris, has given Arsene Wenger the all clear to spend big. The Arsenal manager can sign "anyone but Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi" and is expected to put that money to use on a centre-forward.
Paper Round's view - Arsenal aren't hamstrung by the costs of building and paying for the Emirates anymore. That means they're sitting on cash from the revenue the stadium produces, their sponsorships and the ever-increasing TV money. It's only right that Wenger gets to spend some of that on a great player in a position of need. This could be what they need to sign Karim Benzema.
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Man United set to buy Pedro - Manchester United are ready to bid the £22m that will trigger Pedro's release clause and bring the winger over from Barcelona, according to The Express. Barcelona would like to keep Pedro, but they know he has been frustrated by a lack of playing time and are not going to fight his exit if the £22m release clause is met so the deal should be done by next week.
Paper Round's view - Anyone else getting sick of this one? For God's sake, United, he's a player who is keen to come, would be a great addition to the squad, and has an eminently reasonable £22m release clause. So please, just pick up the phone, do the deal and get your man.
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Pedro Rodríguez

Image credit: Imago

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Tottenham to bid for Berahino - Mauricio Pochettino wants a frontline of Harry Kane and Saido Berahino, and The Mirror claims that Spurs are preparing a bid to make it happen. West Brom refused to sell Berahino to Tottenham in January, but Spurs are ready to make another run at him and are going to submit a firm bid of about £15m.
Paper Round's view - Kane and Berahino would be a terrific frontline and give Spurs not just a potent goalscoring duo, but a young one that they can keep together for a decade. West Brom will have to consider selling him, too, because he is only under contract for two more years and they don't want to sell him on the cheap next summer. The Baggies are trying to sign Berahino to a new deal, but if they can't do it then - as crazy as it might seem in a world where Christian Benteke is worth £32.5m - they may have to let him go for £15m.
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Alen Halilovic (Imago)

Image credit: Imago

West Ham, Everton could take Halilovic on loan - Barcelona are considering letting Alen Halilovic spend the next season on loan and The Mail believes that both West Ham and Everton want the Croatian. Halilovic has been called "the next Luka Modric" and it appeared as if Sevilla would be his landing spot for the season, but the Hammers and Toffees also want the 19-year-old.
Paper Round's view - Halilovic is undeniably talented and it wouldn't make sense for him to spend the season on the bench at Barcelona when he's good enough to contribute in the top flight elsewhere. A year of playing would do him a world of good. That said, the Premier League would be a strange place to send him because his issue now is a lack of strength so England isn't really the ideal place for him right now. Not when Sevilla are interested.
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