Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Cristiano Ronaldo, David De Gea Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly confident Cristiano Ronaldo would reject Chelsea in favour of a return to Old Trafford if he came back to England, while Real Madrid's interest in David De Gea is understood to be growing again.

Spanish newspaper AS reported the Blues are looking to complete a sensational swoop for Real's leading man (h/t Daily Mail's Pete Jenson), but the Sun's Neil Custis wrote the Red Devils aren't concerned with losing that race.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

Jenson stated a Chelsea fire sale would help finance the mega-money move for Ronaldo, with Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic and Oscar mentioned as potential departures after failing to hit expectations this season.

Ronaldo has been associated with a move back to Manchester ever since leaving United in 2009, and according to Spanish newspaper Marca, interest in a comeback has been spiked by owners, the Glazer family, per Sport Witness:

Both Manchester United and Chelsea have transformed tremendously since Ronaldo left the Premier League six years ago, although it's the Blues who are currently floundering in 16th in the English top flight.

Jose Mourinho's side may therefore not want to go for a player who, at the age of 30, has limited time in which to challenge for the kind of accolades he has so consistently during his stay at Real Madrid.

Former club Manchester United are currently closer to doing so, sitting two points off Premier League leaders Manchester City, but the club is not the same as it was under Ronaldo's old mentor, Sir Alex Ferguson.

What's more, the veteran's agent Jorge Mendes recently ruled out the idea of a move back to Old Trafford, or any move for that matter, according to Squawka:

Rafa Benitez is the latest manager to try his hand at taking Los Blancos to new heights, and the Spanish giants are currently among a batch of sides that look superior to anything England can muster at present.

For that reason, Ronaldo leaving the Bernabeu is almost impossible to envision at present, but United feel assured that if their former disciple does move, they're capable of beating Chelsea to the punch.

Jon Super/Associated Press

That doesn't mean Real will avert their gaze from De Gea's signature, however, and after missing out on the goalkeeper's talents last summer, Los Merengues are understood to be back in the hunt for the Spain stopper.

The Sun reported Real are preparing to make De Gea their "primary target" with a view to triggering his £30 million release clause (via Daily Star's Luke Gardener), but the 25-year-old has said he's happy at United:

"

From the first day I came back, after all that happened, he gave me a lot of confidence, told me I would play, to relax and keep doing what I had done before. Van Gaal is a hard and strong coach, but that is what we also try to transmit out on the pitch — that aggression and that attitude the coach has. He is very methodical, and in the end, things are going well.

"

United are on track to re-launch a bid for the Premier League title following a post-Ferguson lull in results these past couple of seasons, but Real would still be an attractive proposition for just about any player.

That being said, De Gea is valued as a major commodity in Manchester after signing a new four-year deal worth £200,000 a week, and the Guardian's Daniel Harris has asserted the No. 1 as the club's only "brilliant" asset:

Despite missing out on their man over the summer months, Real will surely have been pleased with the progress of incumbent keeper Keylor Navas, who has helped make theirs one of Europe's best defences this season.

The release clause in De Gea's new contract may make a future deal somewhat easier for Real, but only if De Gea can be convinced to pursue the transfer himself.