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MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 10: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF reacts as he fail to score during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Real Madrid CF and FC Schalke 04 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 10, 2015 in Madrid, Spain.  (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - MARCH 10: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid CF reacts as he fail to score during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Real Madrid CF and FC Schalke 04 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on March 10, 2015 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Manchester United Transfer News: Louis Van Gaal Targets Named in Latest Rumours

Rory Marsden
Mar 14, 2015

Cristiano Ronaldo's potential return to Old Trafford is a rumour that refuses to go away, and it has emerged once again with reports suggesting Manchester United are in talks with the Real Madrid superstar's agent.

According to Fichajes.net (h/t Jamie Sanderson inย Metro), the Manchester outfit have contacted super agent Jorge Mendes to discuss a mooted return for the 30-year-old to his former club.

Ronaldo is reportedly unhappy at the Bernabeu and was clearly not satisfied with his side's performance in their 4-3 Champions League loss to Schalke on Tuesday, perย Marca:

Sanderson's report suggests that United are looking to broker a deal that would see Ronaldo return to Old Trafford forย โ‚ฌ100 million (ยฃ71.1 million), the Portuguese having joined Real from the Red Devils for ยฃ80 million in 2009, a world-record fee at the time.

These are certainly not the first reports linking Ronaldo with a return to Old Trafford; such rumours have been going around since September 2014, per the Guardian's Jamie Jackson.

However, it does not seem likely that such a deal will go through in the upcoming summer transfer window, Ronaldo's continued importance at Real obvious in his 30 La Liga goals and 10 assists this season, per WhoScored.com.

DEVENTER, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 07:  Memphis Depay of PSV in action during the Dutch Eredivisie match between Go Ahead Eagles and PSV Eindhoven held at the De Adelaarshorst Stadium on March 7, 2015 in Deventer, Netherlands.  (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Ge

No doubt there are a vast number of United fans who would love to see Ronaldo return to their club, but given his status in the game, even โ‚ฌ100 million would likely not be enough even if Real were prepared to sell.

A more likely and forward-thinking target for United is PSV Eindhoven's Memphis Depay, and the Red Devils are reportedly leading the race to sign him, ahead of a potentially busy summer transfer-wise, per B/R UK's Alex Dimond:

According to Samuel Luckhurst in theย Manchester Evening News, 21-year-old Dutch star Depay is set to leave Eredivisie-topping PSV in the summer, with Old Trafford the likely destination.

Recent social media activity from the youngster seemed to back up such a claim, per Sport Witness, and he would be a very exciting addition to the United squad:

A very impressive forward player, Depay would bring goalsโ€”he has 16 in the league this season per WhoScoredโ€”as well as key link-up play to an often stale United attack.

He is also well known to the Red Devils manager, having played under Louis van Gaal for the Dutch national team at the 2014 World Cup, per Dutch football writer Elko Born:

A Ronaldo return looks very unlikely in the summer despite the ongoing reports, but the addition of Depay is a genuine possibility which could pay dividends long term for United.

He is a very exciting young player and could surely be devastating along with the likes of Angel Di Maria and Wayne Rooney as Van Gaal looks to create a genuinely world-beating attacking force.ย