Transfer Gossip: Cristiano Ronaldo issues response as Man Utd, Atletico swap deal mooted; Newcastle eye four Chelsea stars

Cristiano Ronaldo has made a statement about his Manchester United future as talk of a switch to Atletico Madrid grows, Newcastle want to raid Chelsea for four players but will have to manoeuvre around transfer restrictions, while Wednesday’s Transfer Gossip claims Everton have been given the chance to sign a Marseille striker.

CRISTIANO RONALDO REACTS TO LATEST RUMOUR

Cristiano Ronaldo has come in with a response after reports claimed he could leave Manchester United for Atletico Madrid in a swap deal.

According to The Times, Atletico could still land Ronaldo this summer, despite them previously stating this would be impossible.

The Spanish club has a good relationship with the striker’s agent, Jorge Mendes, which could help to smooth over negotiations.

Rather than paying United an outright fee, Atletico want to include a current attacker in the deal for Ronaldo. Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata are the two players who look set to be offered to the Red Devils.

A Ronaldo fan page on Instagram shared the link with Atletico, stating the Portuguese could end up at the Wanda Metropolitano this summer. It would be a hugely controversial signing given Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s top goalscorer of all time.

Responding to the post, Ronaldo said (via Sky Sports): “You’ll all know the truth when I do an interview in a few weeks’ time.

“The media only spouts lies, I have a notebook and out of the last 100 news stories that have been written (about me), only five have been accurate. You can imagine the way things are. Bear that figure in mind.”

Clearly, Ronaldo does not want to be seen as considering the Atletico switch. And he is trying to keep the focus off his future, and instead on the pitch, amid United’s poor start to the new Premier League campaign.

The 37-year-old will soon issue a full statement about where he wants to go, should a United exit take place. The Times’ report states Erik ten Hag has had enough and wants Ronaldo to leave Old Trafford. While United fans want him to stay, it seems a transfer is inevitable.

NEWCASTLE PLOT QUADRUPLE CHELSEA RAID

Newcastle have expressed an interest in signing four players from Chelsea this summer, though they will have to be clever to get all of them through the door.

According to The Telegraph, they want English duo Callum Hudson-Odoi and Conor Gallagher. Eddie Howe has been searching for a winger all summer, so Hudson-Odoi would solve this issue.

Newcastle already have strong options in midfield, but adding Gallagher too would make them even better. After all, he had a top loan spell at Crystal Palace last season.

The Magpies have also set their sights on Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja. However, they can only sign one of these four stars on loan from Thomas Tuchel’s side and must also take Financial Fair Play restrictions into account.

Hudson-Odoi, Gallagher and Broja are the players most likely to fill up that loan spot. Any move for Pulisic would have to be a permanent one.

To avoid going over their spending restrictions, Newcastle may have to include some of their current squad members – as part of a swap deal – in an attempt to get Chelsea to negotiate.

Clearly, this is an ambitious tactic as Chelsea already have a very strong squad. And there probably won’t be many Newcastle players that are of interest to Tuchel.

Newcastle will probably manage to get two Chelsea men to St James’ Park, but capturing all four is very unlikely.

EVERTON OFFERED LIGUE 1 FORWARD

Everton are among the teams who have been given the chance to land Marseille striker Arkadiusz Milik, according to one journalist.

The 28-year-old has had a nomadic career, playing for Bayer Leverkusen, Ajax, Napoli and most recently Marseille.

In January 2021, he joined the French side on loan with an obligation to buy. Marseille paid Napoli around £3.5million for the loan and recently got him on a permanent basis for £7.2m.

Milik has done well at Marseille, registering 30 goals in 55 matches. Despite this, they are apparently willing to let him go before the transfer window shuts.

Karim Bennani, who works for L’Equipe, states Marseille have told several clubs across Europe they can have Milik. Among them are Everton, Manchester United and Juventus.

Marseille know the situation Everton and United are in. Everton let Richarlison go to Tottenham for £60m in July. They have Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Salomon Rondon available up front, though Calvert-Lewin is injured and Rondon isn’t good enough for the Prem. Due to this, it would make sense for Everton to bring in a player like Milik.

United, meanwhile, will need a new centre-forward if Ronaldo leaves for Atletico or another European giant.

United have been linked with several attackers during the current transfer window, including Brian Brobbey and Marko Arnautovic, but none of these moves have come good. As such, Milik could be the man to end their striker woes.