Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid future remains in doubt. Reuters

Manchester United are increasingly confident of securing the funds to bring about an incredible return to Old Trafford for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, according to ESPN.

The idea of United reuniting with the player who departed in a record £80 million deal in 2009 has been floated for several months, although doubts persisted about how the newly crowned Premier League champions would provide the finances to persuade Madrid to sell their prized asset.

But ESPN now reports that figures at United have indicated to them that several factors are now aligning to mean that a transfer this summer is now very much a possibility.

It is believed that a recent increase in marketing and sponsorship revenue, coupled with a new increased Premier League broadcasting deal, will give United significant transfer funds this summer. One of the club’s main sponsors, Chevrolet, may also be prepared to help finance a deal for Ronaldo.

Any offer for Ronaldo could also involve a United player moving to Madrid in part exchange.

Also counting in United’s favor is what is believed to be Ronaldo’s growing desire to return to the club with which he spent six years. The 28-year-old reportedly has no intention of extending his contract at Madrid beyond its current expiration in 2015 and is apprehensive about the immediate future with manager Jose Mourinho set to depart this summer.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently suggested that he was already at an advanced stage in pursuing transfer targets for this summer.

"Hopefully the players we bring into the club in the next year or so will be of the quality we need,” he said. “We're competitive in the market - we're not Chelsea or Manchester City in terms of money but we're competitive.

"We've been doing a bit of work on that over the last three or four months, targeting who the players are that we feel could enhance us, make us better or help us maintain the level we're at."

On the same day as ESPN’s report, the Sun has claimed that Paris Saint-Germain have approached Madrid with an offer to try and bring Ronaldo to the French capital. The big-spending Ligue 1 leaders are one of the few clubs in the world for which Ronaldo’s transfer fee and wages would pose little problem. PSG have previously intimated that they would be interested in the Portuguese forward.

The Sun also asserts that United have been made aware of PSG’s interest and have contact Ronaldo’s agent.

“United are not happy now PSG have made their move with a substantial offer,” a United source reportedly told the Sun.

“They will not give up, however, and have told Ronaldo’s agent of their intent.”

ESPN+