Football transfer news and rumours: 'Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Real Madrid this month'
A frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Real Madrid before the end of the month, a source close to the player has revealed.
Ronaldo is currently serving a five-match ban for his ill-tempered reaction to being sent off in the first leg of the Supercopa de Espana this month - a decision he branded 'incomprehensible' earlier this week.
"For now, he’s just concentrating on playing," the source was quoted as saying in the Manchester Evening News.
"He is angry about the five-game ban, but he is working just as hard with the team. However, we cannot guarantee whether he will stay or leave.
"We’ll see what happens in between now and August 31."
A return to Manchester United is believed to be the most likely destination for the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's father Jorge has met with Manchester City representatives to discuss a possible move for his son to the Etihad, The Sun reports.
Jorge Messi met City's director of football Txiki Begiristain, who was at Barcelona until 2012 to talk through a possible move.
With Messi stalling on signing a new deal at the Nou Camp, City could potentially snap up the Argentine for nothing next summer when his current contract expires. There is also the option of them triggering Messi's buyout clause, which is believed to be around £263m.
City is thought to be the natural destination, given the player's relationship with Begiristain and the club's chief executive and fellow ex-Barca man Ferran Soriano. It was also manager Pep Guardiola who nurtured Messi from starlet into superstar when he was Barca manager between 2008 and 2012.
City deny that they have made an offer for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Sticking with Barcelona, Yahoo Sport claims that Liverpool playmaker Philippe Coutinho could make a public statement about his desire to join the Catalan club in order to try and force a move through.
Elsewhere, Chelsea will attempt to force Leicester City's hand with a £32m bid for wantaway midfielder Danny Drinkwater - according to The Sun.
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Leicester are still holding out for £40m however, and since the player has no buyout clause, they are under no obligation to sell.
Drinkwater would add depth too Chelsea's midfield options and he would increase their number of homegrown players. Antonio Conte is also keeping tabs on Inter's Antonio Candreva, but signing Drinkwater is the priority.
Chelsea are also still hopeful of signing Ross Barkley for £25m from Everton, and Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who according to the Telegraph has been the subject of a £35m bid from the Blues.
Another player potentially heading for the Emirates exit door is centre-back Shkodran Mustafi, who is wanted by Inter according to the Mirror.
