Manchester United Transfer News: Fresh Pedro Twist, Latest on Cristiano Ronaldo

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has told ESPN Deportes (via Adriana Garcia of ESPN.co.uk) that Manchester United are yet to launch an official approach for Pedro Rodriguez.

The recently re-elected chief doesn't expect any further summer business to take place and believes Luis Enrique's squad is ready to go for the next season, per Garcia:

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The team is what it is. It has been put together. We have the team that our coach wanted— it's done and completed. We don't foresee any departures from the team. I've read many things about a Pedro departure, but no one has officially addressed our club. Our squad is complete.

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However, Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News expects United boss Louis van Gaal to land the player who could replace Angel Di Maria:

Di Maria is on the brink of agreeing a deal with French champions Paris Saint-Germain. However, Sky Sports noted that "United want more than the £44 million figure quoted in several national newspapers on Friday," having paid a British record £59.7 million for him last summer.

Luckhurst suggested United may have to wait until Barcelona's appearance in the UEFA Super Cup on Aug. 11 to sign Pedro, but this will ensure he misses the Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Aug. 8. Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail expects United to speed up the Pedro deal if Di Maria moves.

B/R UK's Andy Brassell recently discussed whether he is a suitable replacement for the Argentinian:

The player's £22 million buyout clause, reported by Luckhurst, cannot be considered a problem for United. Di Maria's likely sale will coincide with the club's new 10-year contract with kit manufacturers Adidas, which will land the side £75 million per season.

Van Gaal has spent lavishly on players such as Memphis Depay, Matteo Darmian, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin this summer in a bid to improve his squad. As highlighted by the purchase of Di Maria, money is rarely an issue if the manager believes the player is the right fit.

This would no doubt extend to the return of Cristiano Ronaldo if he ever became available. Luckhurst believes United "still want" their talisman back, but Real Madrid wish to receive the cash they spent on him in 2009 in return.

A report in the Sun (h/t Ryan Rosenblatt of Eurosport) indicated Madrid want £84.5 million, a number that will see United give up their hunt for the Portuguese superstar.

Theo Karanikos/Associated Press

With just over a month of the transfer window remaining, it seems there's still plenty of business to iron out for United.

Di Maria's switch appears inevitable, but Bartomeu's comments indicate Barca aren't willing to let Pedro go without a fight. This is amplified by the club's current transfer ban, which stops new signings Aleix Vidal and Arda Turan playing competitively for the Blaugrana until January 2016.

Once Arda is available, it's likely Pedro will be outlined as surplus to requirements. Van Gaal must make sure his squad is packed with versatile goalscoring talent ahead of the new season and would do well to land the Spaniard before Spurs arrive in the Premier League curtain-raiser.