Manchester United to open talks to sign Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos on Monday

Manchester United will open negotiations with Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos on Monday, according to Cadena Cope.

Ramos, who has two years remaining on his current contract at the Santiago Bernabeu, has been locked in negotiations to extend his current deal since the conclusion of the 2014-15 season.

Having monitored the situation from afar, United are now ready to offer the Spain international a deal worth €10m (£7.2m) a year, a hefty increase on his current earnings of €6m.

Cadena Cope's Joseba Larranaga claims United are hopeful of negotiating a fee for the World Cup winner, knowing Real will want to get maximum value for the player should contract talks continue to go nowhere.

It is claimed United will officially open talks on Monday to bring Ramos to Old Trafford and make him one of the highest paid players at the club.

Ramos's agent and brother Rene Ramos was recently forced to deny claims the Spain defender would consider joining Real's arch-rivals Barcelona.

Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo claimed last week he was offered the defender as an 'election secret weapon', a claim swiftly dismissed by Ramos' agent who told Marca: "Sergio Ramos will never play for Barca."

Reports of imminent talks with United follow claims made by Spanish daily AS on Sunday, suggesting Ramos has decided to leave Real this summer.

The report claims the Spaniard was disheartened by the club's decision not to officially deny Majo's Barcelona claims, the latest in a string of issues that has contributed to the deteriorating relationship between the player and the club.

AS add Ramos has a release clause of €200m in his current contract.

Ramos has been synonymous with Real Madrid since joining the club from Sevilla in 2005 for €27m, winning three La Liga titles, two Copa del Reys and the 2013-14 Champions League with Los Blancos.