Paper Round: Cristiano Ronaldo asks Real Madrid for €100m release price

Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Real Madrid to set his asking price at 100m euros, a sum that he believes realistically reflects his value. Ronaldo's release clause is currently set at one billion euros, but Ronaldo doesn't want to put off potential suitors. The 32-year-old may still be of interest to both Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, and so Ronaldo is asking for a commitment that Florentino Perez won't ask for an unreasonable fee.

Paper Round's view: It is hard to believe that any club would pay more than 100 million euros for a player as old as Ronaldo, however good he might be. And, with Real Madrid's riches, they should not need to hold any other club to ransom when it comes to selling him. If the relationship between Ronaldo and Perez is as low as reported, then it is in nobody's interest to prevent an easy exit for the player.

Jose Mourinho is lining up Napoli's midfielder Jorginho as a replacement for Michael Carrick. The 26-year-old Italian international plays a similar deep-lying position as Carrick, who is returning to fitness after a scare over his heart. He is unlikely to feature regularly for United this season, and will probably retire. Mourinho wants Jorginho as he believes that Ander Herrera is not adept at playing a defensive position.

Paper Round's view: It had been thought that United wanted a playmaker to play further ahead of the midfield. That might still be the case, but by bringing in another, deeper midfielder then it would allow Paul Pogba to play further up the pitch and assist the team's forwards. Carrick has needed replacing since he turned 30, and United have only properly addressed the midfield shortcomings with Mourinho's arrival.

Chelsea have held initial talks with Eden Hazard over a contract renewal, but neither the club nor the player are in a hurry. Hazard is aware that Real Madrid are interested in him, but understands that Real's interest in players, such as Thibaut Courtois, often doesn't come to fruition. Hazard is also concerned that Zinedine Zidane, one of his heroes, is not secure as the Spanish club have tailed off in La Liga.

Paper Round's view: As Cristiano Ronaldo has found out, joining Real Madrid isn't necessarily an instant guarantee of success. As Real appear to be heading into another fractious period of overhaul and managerial change, it may make sense to remain at the relatively stable situation at Stamford Bridge. Having said that, Chelsea should accept that Hazard will one day force his way out to Real.

Stoke City are interested in taking Daniel Sturridge on loan from Liverpool. Sturridge is fighting both for first-team football at Anfield and for a place in Gareth Southgate's World Cup squad. Stoke are also interested in Danny Ings, who has suffered two serious knee injuries while at Liverpool since his move from Burnley. Stoke's relative proximity to Liverpool may help attract the players.

Paper Round's view: Stoke are in need of striking reinforcements. Peter Crouch is often effective but isn't a pacey presence, and Saido Berahino is yet to find his way back after a difficult end to his career with West Bromwich Albion. Nevertheless given the fitness concerns over both Sturridge and Ings, it may be a risk to put their hopes on either or both of the players being of much help in the second half of the season.