Manchester United Transfer News: Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Bebe And Mane Discussed In Latest Speculation

Manchester United are poised to agree a deal to bring Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski to Old Trafford next summer, according to German publication Bild. The prolific Poland international has been heavily linked to United for some time and Sir Alex Ferguson is thought to have pursued the 24-year-old this summer before eventually landing Robin van Persie.

Lewandowski has just 18 months remaining on his contract and Dortmund have previously admitted that they may be forced to sell him next summer if a new deal is not agreed. Bild reports that the former Lech Poznan man will join for a fee of €22 million (£18m). It is also claimed that Lewandowski will sign a five-year-contract worth €5 million (£4.1m) a year.

While Lewandowski’s pedigree is impressive, having scored 30 goals last season and with 15 already to his name this campaign, it is difficult to see how he would fit into the current United lineup. Ferguson already has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal and Van Persie has led the line to tremendous effect in his debut season at Old Trafford.

In further news that will doubtless excite Manchester United fans, Spanish publication AS has reported that Cristiano Ronaldo will reject a new contract offer at Real Madrid. This season has seen mounting speculation about the United legend’s unhappiness at Madrid, sparked by the Portuguese forward’s comments in September.

According to AS, Ronaldo’s issues are not monetary and thus Madrid’s reported plans to offer him a new deal worth €15 million (£12.3m) a year will not resolve the situation. The story states that big-spending Paris Saint-Germain would be best positioned to sign Ronaldo should he force through a move, although the player himself is said to prefer a return to Old Trafford.

Whether United could afford the man they sold for a record £80 million back in 2009 is an entirely different matter.

There has also been news of a Portuguese forward still on Manchester United’s books. Bebe, who famously signed for £7.4 million in the summer of 2010 with Ferguson admitting he had never seen him play, has moved back to Portugal to join Rio Ave on loan for the rest of the season.

The 22-year-old’s season-long loan spell at Turkish side Besiktas was hampered last term when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on duty with the Portugal Under-21 side. Bebe appeared in United’s pre-season tour back in the summer but hasn’t featured for the first team this season. He has made just seven competitive appearances in his time at the club, scoring twice.

Rio Ave currently lie in fifth place in the Portuguese Liga.

Manchester United could also be bringing in a player from Portugal with TalkSport reporting that the club are interested in Sporting Lisbon youngster Carlos Mane. The 18-year-old is said to have impressed in the recent NexLions Cup in Singapore as Sporting came home with the trophy.

It is claimed that United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have all had the £8-million-rated starlet watched in recent weeks.