Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo Rumours

Manchester United are willing to pay Barcelona's Neymar a staggering £271,000 a week to make a switch to Old Trafford, according to reports.

Don Balon (h/t Jamie Sanderson of Metro) claims the Red Devils will put together the enticing package, and Adam Skinner of the Daily Express relays the claim that "Louis van Gaal's side are now determined to do all they can to get him."

Neymar revealed to ESPN Brasil (h/t Sky Sports) there were some tentative discussions between the two parties during the summer transfer window, but nothing materialised. Since then, the Brazilian has been in sensational form for the Blaugrana, helping them to a three-point lead in La Liga over Real Madrid.

As we can see here, courtesy of OptaJose, all of Barcelona's best attacking play has come through Neymar recently:

It means United would be getting a wonderful player if they were to bring Neymar to Old Trafford; even if he was to be paid the aforementioned wage, the Brazil skipper would be value for money. However, the quality he's shown recently coupled with the manner in which he's seized responsibility with Lionel Messi injured makes a sale very, very unlikely.

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There are some reasons United fans could still preserve hope. As noted by Sanderson, Barcelona's attempts at tying Neymar down to a new deal have been prolonged, while the Red Devils are one of a few teams in world football capable of funding what would surely be a world-record transfer.

However, Spanish football expert Sergi Dominguez still feels as though Neymar has a lot to accomplish at Barcelona:

Indeed, while he's still growing as a footballer, in Neymar, Barcelona seem to have a player who is capable of potentially filling what'll be a major void when Messi steps aside. Even if United were to offer an eye-watering package, that's a luxury the Blaugrana will not be willing to relinquish, barring a few drastic changes.

Real Madrid Want Return on Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo will reportedly be sold by Real Madrid this summer, as they seek to cash in on a player who will turn 31 this season and still command a substantial fee.

According to Pete Jenson of the MailOnline, Real's willingness to recoup some of the £80 million they paid for Ronaldo as well as a breakdown in relationship with manager Rafael Benitez and tension between himself and club president Florentino Perez will ultimately manifest as a sale. 

Simon Mullock of the Sunday Mirror wrote earlier this season that United were looking at bringing their former player back to the club next year.

As noted by Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC, at the moment, Ronaldo is really struggling to make a sustained impact in matches:

While United's name will always be brought up in relation to a possible Ronaldo transfer, according to Jenson, Paris Saint-Germain are currently the big favourites to acquire him. Those at Old Trafford who still laud their former player from the stands will be hoping that, should the forward become available, the club will step in and make an offer.

After all, Ronaldo is still a goalscoring force, as Uber Sports Fact note here with his statistics for the calendar year:

Some who are a little more sensible may cast doubts over the merits of bringing back a player who is a little past his best. Former United defender Gary Neville is one who has revealed his doubts of footballers coming back for a second spell at a club, per the Sunday People (h/t Simeon Gholam of the MailOnline).

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For Ronaldo, too, a brand new challenge may be what's needed in order for him to continue preserving such immaculate standards. He accomplished plenty at United and has done everything possible at Real Madrid; there is a lot he could do to aid a club like PSG, and he would be paid a handsome salary for doing so.