Transfer talk: Manchester City plan Cristiano Ronaldo move; United want Gareth Bale; Arsenal and Liverpool given Marco Reus boost

The biggest transfer news and rumours on Saturday 31 January

Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mattia Destro and Marco Reus (Getty Images)

Manchester City could looked to get one over their fierce rivals Manchester United by launching a world record bid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer, should he want to leave Real Madrid.

According to a report in The Sun, City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain is in regular contact with ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes, who represents the three-time Ballon d’Or winner. Having left United in 2009, Ronaldo has openly spoken about the possibility of returning to Old Trafford in the future, but City could look to lure him to the blue half of Manchester instead.

Manchester United’s interests appear to be elsewhere in Madrid s the Daily Star claim they have allocated £120m to try and sign Gareth Bale in the summer. The Welshman joined Real in the summer of 2013 and has settled well in the Spanish capital, but has found himself the subject of criticism from areas of the Real crowd and Spanish pundits in recent months for a perception that he holds onto the ball too long in attacking positions.

However, Bale has reaffirmed his commitment to Real this month and says he does not see himself at United any time soon.

Another possible summer target for City could be Real defender Pepe, who is being linked with a move away from the Spanish club. The Daily Express reports that the Portuguese centre-back is willing to end his stay at the Santiago Bernabeu before his contract expires in 2018, and will consider offers in an effort to maintain his first-team opportunities.

United have been linked with a world record move for Bale (Getty Images)

With Raphael Varane quickly emerging as one of the best young talents in world football, Pepe could soon find himself behind the Frenchman and Sergio Ramos in the Real pecking order, and the 31-year-old is believed to have interested City.

Arsenal, Liverpool and United have been given a boost in their attempts to sign highly-rated German forward Marco Reus after Bayern Munich pulled out of the battle to land the Borussia Dortmund star. According to German newspaper Bild, Bayern will not pursue the 25-year-old, and a move to the Premier League appears to be on the cards with a number of teams interested in him. Reus is currently working his way back to full fitness, having returned from an ankle injury earlier this month.

Reus looks set to leave Dortmund in the summer

Tottenham’s

attempts to sign Mattia Destro from Roma could be strengthened by the allowance of letting either Emmanuel Adebayor or Roberto Soldado join Roma as part of a deal. Destro is reported to be on the verge of a move to AC Milan, but Spurs remain determined to try and lure the 23-year-old striker to White Hart Lane with the Evening Standard reporting that the club will offer one of their out-of-form forwards to try and structure a deal.

Finally, Hull are on the verge of completing a loan deal for Spurs winger Aaron Lennon. The former England international has slipped down the pecking order under Mauricio Pochettino, and the Hull Daily Mail claims the Tigers are ready to complete a move that will see the 27-year-old head to the KC Stadium on a loan until the end of the season, with a permanent switch available for around £7m.