Real Madrid Transfer News: Sergio Ramos Set for New Contract Offer Amid Rumours

Real Madrid will offer Sergio Ramos £200,000 per week to stop him from signing for Manchester United, according to Neil Custis of the Sun.

A four-year contract worth £41.6 million is on the horizon, per Custis (h/t Alex Harris of the Daily Star). This would push Ramos into the Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale bracket of earners at the club, satisfying his desire to be viewed as one of the squad's most important players.

United were reported to be preparing a five-year contract worth £39 million after tax for the player, per Metro (h/t Harris). According to Sky Sports, United are weighing up their next move after having a bid rejected for the player who was discussed by former Madrid assistant boss Paul Clement below:

Madrid will force the Premier League side to offer £70 million (€100 million) for Ramos' services using a formula put together when the Red Devils snapped up Angel Di Maria last summer, reported Ruben Jimenez of Marca.

This would multiply United's annual wage offer to Ramos by the number of years he signs for. Jimenez notes a €20 million per year salary offer (approx £14.2 million, £270,000 per week) across five years may be forthcoming from the Red Devils, thus producing the aforementioned transfer fee.

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It's difficult to quantify exactly how this situation is going to pan out. ESPN FC writer Sid Lowe believes Ramos' relationship with Madrid president Florentino Perez is significantly strained, but both clubs involved in this saga could pull the plug at any second: 

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The damage done is significant, and much of it is irreversible. Equally, to judge this as simply a means of getting a new contract out of Madrid is wrong; it has gone well beyond that, and Ramos' desire to move is real. It is equally impossible to know what would happen if Madrid refuse to sell except that, in theory, Manchester United would also refuse to sell David De Gea.

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Madrid's interest in De Gea has been speculated for months. United could play hard ball in this area, according to the Mirror's David McDonnell. He reported United will force them into making De Gea the most expensive goalkeeping transfer ever.

This equates to anything over the £32.6 million (approx. €46 million) Juventus spent on Gianluigi Buffon 14 years ago, even though De Gea has a year left on his contract and can move for free next summer.

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Ramos' desire will play a huge role in whether he remains at the Bernabeu or not. Former Los Blancos president Ramon Calderon believes the 29-year-old will only exit the Spanish capital for United. "I know Sergio has told the general manager to listen to offers they get from Manchester United," said Calderon, per Simon Stone of BBC Sport. "He only wants to go to United."

This theory will be severely tested if Madrid's contract offer proves to be true. Ramos is a leader at the Bernabeu but could be an integral part of United's transition. Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal needs top-quality, experienced winners to improve on last season's fourth-place finish.

B/R UK's Sam Tighe doesn't believe we will see Ramos at Old Trafford next season:

It's unlikely new Madrid boss Rafa Benitez will want to lose his stalwart within weeks of joining the club. Although it's important the coach quickly puts his stamp on the team, selling a man who has played a significant part in the club's recent success isn't the way to do it.

He'll know this, Perez will know this and Ramos will know this. The player will benefit either way by landing a bumper contract at either Madrid or United, so he is well-placed to maintain his silence over a situation which is yet to reach its climax.