Paper Round: Louis van Gaal sparks back page frenzy by saying United want Cristiano Ronaldo

Van Gaal has been splashed all over the back pages of Britain's Sunday newspapers with his extraordinary comments, which came when he was directly asked about possible future transfer activity.

"He plays on the wings and he is fast and scores goals. I don’t think there is a trainer in the world that doesn’t like him. Of course we would look," he said, when asked if he would be keen to sign the Real Madrid superstar.

"We are looking at all players, not just Ronaldo. But these players are mostly ungettable," he added.

"With Ronaldo, let's wait and hope. There is no trainer in the world that doesn't like him."

Former United favourite Ronaldo left the club for Real Madrid in 2009, for a then world record fee of £80 million.

He has since become the Spanish club's all-time record goalscorer, but suggestions have persisted that he would be one day open to returning to United.

Ronaldo turns 31 in February, and had an off-key game against Barcelona on Saturday night as Real lost 4-0 at the Bernabeu to their great rivals.

Ronaldo won three Premier League titles while at United, who he joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2003, becoming one of Sir Alex Ferguson's most successful signings. He has been FIFA's Ballon d'Or winner on three occasions, including the last two years running.

Those credentials mean he would not come cheap: the Mail on Sunday suggests a price of £60 million for the Portuguese forward, an extraordinary sum considering his age - and even bigger, when likely wages of £250,000-£300,000 are taken into account. Or £500,000 a week, if The Sun's slightly absurd report is to be believed.

But that may yet be good value: Ronaldo's skill might be surpassed by Lionel Messi at times, but his potential to draw sponsorship and shirt sale money towards his club is unparalleled.

Furthermore, his outstanding physical condition suggests that he could continue at the top for far longer than most players - and perhaps even copy another United legend, Ryan Giggs, in playing up to his 40th year.

Ronaldo is just the start, according to The Sun: West Brom and England striker Saido Berahino is a £25 million January target for Van Gaal. "LVG is desperate for firepower and United will make a move for West Brom star Berahino when the January transfer window opens," the paper claims, suggesting that a Ronaldo deal might have to wait until the summer.

Paper Round's view: Berahino really needs a move, and given United's striker injury crisis it can't come fast enough. But once everyone is fit again at Old Trafford, would he even be earning a regular first team spot? The truth is no, considering that club captain Rooney appears undroppable and summer sensation Martial appears unstoppable.

The Sunday People claims that PSG and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is keen to move to the Premier League before he hangs up his boots. "Ibrahimovic IS interested in coming to the Premier League - and Arsenal are his club of choice," the paper reports. "The legendary Sweden striker said this week it was 'too late' for him to link up with any English sides when his contract at Paris Saint-Germain ends next summer. But Sunday People Sport understands that not only has contact with a number of our leading clubs been made on Ibrahimovic's behalf but that the player himself has made it clear he wants to work with Arsene Wenger - and, what's more, the Frenchman is interested."

Paper Round's view: We'd love to see it happen, but Zlatan really has nothing to gain with a move to the Premier League. Anything less than a title-winning stint would take the shine off his stunning record of achievement with all his other clubs, yet given his age (34) he would surely struggle even to play regularly for any side who were in contention for the league. What he said in the week is probably right: the window to come to England came when he joined PSG a few years ago; that was his last hurrah in Europe. But at least English fans got to witness his best-ever goal on these shoes: that 40-yard overhead kick for Sweden against England.

Spurs are to turn their focus to Brazilian striker Alexandre Pato, the former AC Milan star who is currently in Brazilian Serie A with Corinthians. Tottenham are still keen on Berahino, but should they lose out then Pato will be their main target. "Pato, rated around £8m, is currently on loan to Sao Paulo and is known as a quick, aggressive forward with an eye for goal," the paper adds.

Paper Round's view: Pato's career has never fulfilled the early promise he showed at Milan, and it's hard to imagine that the Premier League would be the place for him to shine. Throw in Spurs' unenviable recent record for turning promising players into expensive failures and this one must surely have the warning klaxon sounding at White Hart Lane.

Two years ago he was rumoured to be leaving over the lack of a birthday card, but now The Sunday Times reports that Yaya Toure wants to sign a new deal at Manchester City and help make them the biggest club in the world before he retires. The paper's exclusive interview with the 32-year-old has some fascinating insights into the mentality of a player who was often criticised last year for seeming disinterested in the quest: "I want to show the boss and fans I’m there to fight until the end. [Critics] don’t understand that. I want to leave my mark. My target is to be the biggest club in the world... I don’t say it’s me who’s a warrior, the only one, but I’m one of the guys that’s been here a long time and wants to show this club... We have to win the Champions League, several trophies, over many years. We have to show Manchester United, yeah, we’re becoming like you. They’ve been winning trophies for years and I want City to be like them. That’s what I am fighting for and I will never give up.”

Paper Round's view: Stirring stuff from Toure, making you think that he might even have designs on management in the future. He certainly doesn't sound like the mercenary he was once painted as, and reading the full interview it's hard not to believe that his enthusiasm for the task is genuine. Though of course he was no doubt talking to the paper ahead of Saturday's mauling by Liverpool...