Ronaldo has told Real Madrid he wants to leave the Bernabeu due to the state allegations of tax fraud.

Manchester United, understandably given they have had their fingers burned in recent dealings with Real, are saying nothing, whilst, at the same time, investigating the reality of the situation behind the scenes.

Amid all this, they still need a striker, so efforts to sign Alvaro Morata from Real continue, and speculation persists that David de Gea will move in the opposite direction even though it has been claimed in Madrid that Real are no longer intested in the Spain keeper.

All three of these deals could happen. But so could none of them.

And the one thing for sure is that any negotiations will be fraught - and extensive.