THE European transfer window is about to ignite and Cristiano Ronaldo could set off the summer frenzy, with some of the other big fish still competing in Russia.

A romantic return to former club Manchester United could be on the cards for Ronaldo, with Juventus also preparing a mega offer for the Portuguese ace who’s weighing up his international future after Portugal’s World Cup exit.

A Real Madrid exit appears a fait accompli for Ronaldo with Neymar likely be Real Madrid’s no.1 replacement target, although 2018 World Cup stars Harry Kane (Tottenham) and Kylian Mbappe (PSG) are also on their radar.

PSG is the only other viable option for Ronaldo, who joined the Spaniards from Old Trafford in 2009.

Real splashed $160 million to sign Brazil 2014 stars James Rodriguez (Colombia), Toni Kroos (Germany) and Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) straight after the last World Cup and they are again watching intently.

Russia 2018 has meant a slow start in the transfer world, but with 24 of the nations eliminated and the Premier League transfer window deadline brought forward, July looms as the new August.

August 9 is the new Premier League deadline for clubs to buy players after clubs voted to bring it forward, with the Football League (Championship and Leagues One and Two) following suit.

Complicating matters is that continental Europe has retained the August 31 deadline, with English clubs still able to sell players until then despite the incoming deadline 22 days earlier.

AUSSIE MOVES
Former Brisbane Roar winger Brandon Borrello, whose World Cup dream was thwarted by a knee injury, looks set for a German Bundesliga move.

Portugal-based defender Nick Ansell looks set to return to Melbourne Victory to replace Rhys Williams, who is bound for Saudi Arabia.

Top-tier Freiburg are believed to be on the verge of signing Borrello from Kaiserslautern, who were relegated to the third division.

Borrello, 22, was a Kaiserslautern standout, netting three goals in 19 games and was set to be picked in Bert van Marwijk’s extended Russia 2018 squad before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in late April.

Fringe Socceroos keeper Adam Federici, 33, has joined relegated Stoke City from Bournemouth, penning a two-year deal.

Nope - he will not leave REAL!


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