Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Blockbuster Cristiano Ronaldo Offer Readied

Manchester United will bid £80 million and offer Cristiano Ronaldo £14 million per year to rejoin the club, according to Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Anthony Chapman of the Express).

The Real Madrid star continues to be linked with a move away from the Bernabeu after a frustrating turn of events since Christmas.

While both his and Madrid's form has dipped, Ronaldo recently assumed a vow of silence after Los Blancos' players were booed off the pitch following their inconsequential Champions League defeat to Schalke, reported by Sky Sports.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Ronaldo may also find himself in trouble with the Spanish league authorities for two separate incidents during the recent Clasico loss to Barcelona. LFP president Javier Tebas believes CR7's "calm down" celebration "must be sanctioned" and can be considered a provocative gesture, reported by Iain Rogers of Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail).

Following on from this, Sport and Spanish television highlighted footage of Ronaldo grabbing his testicles in a potentially mocking way toward referee Mateu Lahoz. He is alleged to have asked the official, "do you like that?" Tebas reacted by saying "we can't permit people to make gestures like these; we need to rid football of them," reported by Marca. "If Ronaldo touched his balls, he has to be punished."

Such annoyances may be totting up for the player, particularly as things aren't progressing particularly well on the pitch. Ronaldo is no longer La Liga's top scorer, having surrendered the mantle to Lionel Messi, and Carlo Ancelotti's men are four points behind Barca with 10 league games remaining.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

One could suggest Ronaldo has achieved all he can at the club. Last season's Decima triumph was the Holy Grail for many Madrid fans, the feat which outranked all others. Having won every trophy worth winning with the club, it's possible Ronaldo could be lured elsewhere. He left United after adding a glut of English trophies and the Champions League to his collection.

Gareth Bale continues to be linked with a move to United, who are "the most obvious destination" if his time in the Spanish capital is cut short, believes John Brewin of ESPN FC. B/R UK's Ryan Bailey and Thom Gibbs recently discussed who would be the better signing:

Louis van Gaal's side desperately need a quick, incisive forward to take on a leading role. United have struggled in attack this season because they don't possess someone who puts fear into defenders through pace alone.

Although Wayne Rooney is capable of bursting into life, Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao have a tendency to work in slow motion, frustrations that haven't been aided by their lack of physical dominance this campaign. Ronaldo plays high up the pitch and is always ready to stretch his side's play by sprinting down the channels or beyond the last defender.

Of course, the £80 million cost reported by Chapman means Madrid would receive all of their initial outlay in the player back. This could be key to funding the club's next era of stars, particularly if the side's recent struggles are going to be met with wholesale changes.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Ronaldo's potential return would also see interest in United ramp up considerably. He is a marketing juggernaut, someone who could attract plenty of positive attention to the club from a financial point of view. The storyline of his return, and whether success follows, would be one of the season's most interesting dramas.

Van Gaal made a statement signing that has yet to pay off in Angel Di Maria. Ronaldo would take things to another level, however, and underline United's ambition to quickly find success.

His return still appears a long way off—Madrid would be gutsy to cash-in on their most important player—but Ronaldo's recent troubles will certainly have supporters wondering if he could be tempted back to M16.