Napoli pushing to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United

Napoli have held discussions with Cristiano Ronaldo's agent ahead of Thursday's transfer deadline.

Ronaldo's representative, Jorge Mendes, failed to persuade Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid to move for Ronaldo and Napoli have been by far the most engaged club.

Napoli are understood to be eyeing a permanent deal for Ronaldo, 37, but are prepared to settle for a loan deal as they are pressed for time. The transfer window closes at 11pm on September 1.

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Figures at United have sensed Mendes would attempt to facilitate an exit route for Ronaldo late in the window.

United manager Erik ten Hag has been open to letting Ronaldo leave for weeks but the club's co-chairman Joel Glazer has resisted any possible sale.

Ronaldo has only started one of United's first four Premier League games - the 4-0 thrashing by Brentford - and was dropped for their two victories against Liverpool and Southampton.

Napoli have won two and drawn one of their first three Serie A games and would offer Ronaldo Champions League football.

As revealed by the Manchester Evening News last month, United's failure to qualify for the Champions League is the prime reason driving Ronaldo's desire to leave,

Ronaldo and United players were hit with a 25% salary reduction due to finishing outside the Premier League top four and Ronaldo was also unimpressed by the club's glacial activity in the transfer market.

The timing of a story at the start of July that reported Ronaldo's wish to move on came two days before the Portuguese was due to return for pre-season training at United's Carrington training complex.

Ronaldo was granted additional leave and missed the entirety of United's pre-season tour due to a