Manchester United Transfer News: Van Gaal Favourite to Sign World-Class Defender Following Massive Offer

Manchester United are confident of signing Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid in the summer transfer window, with the English Premier League club ready to offer the Spain international defender a massive contract.

Ramos has been recently linked with a move away from Real Madrid, with the defender struggling to come to a new contract agreement.

Arsenal have reportedly held talks with the player's agent over a possible summer move with Arsene Wenger desperate to land a proven central defender.

A transfer fee of well over £30 million has been mooted, which most of the top clubs in the Premier League will have no problem matching for a player of Ramos' calibre.

However, paying a certain fee and convincing Ramos that his future lies away from Real Madrid are two completely different things.

Real Madrid are the best club team in Europe at the moment and indeed the world after winning the Club World Cup title. They lead the La Liga, and are on course to defend their Champions League title as well, with Cristiano Ronaldo the favourite to be awarded the Ballon d'Or for the World Player of the Year for a second consecutive season.

Ramos is a vital cog in Carlo Ancelotti's wheel, with the centre-back scoring that famous goal right at the end of normal time to force the Champions League final into the extra period, where Atletico Madrid crumbled.

The only chance of Real Madrid letting Ramos go is if the player himself decides against signing a new deal and believes his future lies in the Premier League.

Manchester United have moved ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City for Ramos' signature by offering the28-year-old a massive £105,000 a week after tax, according to the Daily Star.

That means a gross weekly wage somewhere in the region of £200,000 a week, which Ramos will certainly consider with a keen eye.

However, much will depend on where Manchester United finish at the end of the season -- if they fall out of the top four, which does look unlikely, then signing the likes of Ramos will look improbable, but if Louis Van Gaal's men take that top four posiiton and seal a place in the Champions League, combined with the club's clout and money available, nothing can be entirely ruled out.

After all, Manchester United did buy Angel Di Maria after the midfielder made it clear he wanted a move away following a contract dispute, and a similar situation developing with Ramos is certainly in the realms of possibility.