Hands up if you think Premier League transfer values have gone MAD

THE fact that Manchester United are even thinking about it says it all.

Wages of £400,000 a week on top of a transfer fee of around £175million for 32-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.

The idea that he could quit Real Madrid to become the ultimate trophy signing at United sums up a simply crazy transfer window within which fees are spiralling out of control.

Only three times in the past five summers have English clubs paid more than £50m for a player.

This summer could see the entire top five go over that figure, with Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, Alexandre Lacazette, Virgil van Dijk and Kylian Mbappe all highly sought after.

But during his time in Spain, at least Ronaldo has his three Champions Leagues, three Ballon d’Ors, two La Liga titles and the European Championship that he inspired Portugal to last season in his favour.

He may turn 33 next February, but he still netted 42 times for Real last season.

The fact is, however, that the Premier League is awash with TV cash and Champions League revenue. Clubs are able to throw their money about this summer with only a few of them railing against being taken for a ride.

Chelsea’s chief negotiator, Marina Granovskaia (below, left), simply does not want to go anywhere near the £100m that Everton are demanding for striker Lukaku.

He may have scored 26, 25 and 20 goals over the past three seasons. At the age of just 24, he also has a number of good years ahead of him. But Chelsea remain locked in talks with the Toffees, anxious not to be milked just because they have the cash.

Manchester City have no such concerns.

They have already splashed out £35m to make Benfica star Ederson the most expensive keeper of all time.

The 23-year-old has never played for Brazil and has it all to prove in English football.

Opinion is also split over another keeper, Jordan Pickford, 23, who only made his first-team debut with Sunderland in January 2016 and moved to Everton for £30m last week.

His supporters insist he is as good with his feet as he is in command of his goal.

His critics are incredulous that he has become the world’s third most expensive keeper on the strength of just one full season in the Premier League.

But if Pickford is worth £30m, then how much do you demand for David De Gea, the United No.1, in whom Real Madrid remain interested? Superstar Juventus right-back Dani Alves is also on the City wishlist – even though the Champions League winner would command a huge package in terms of transfer fee and wages, at the age of 34. Tottenham have also upped the price yet further in anticipation of City’s opening gambit for Kyle Walker. Spurs will now not do business for less than £50m. And why not, with Southampton demanding around £60-70m for defender Van Dijk? Even some Liverpool fans are sceptical as to whether the price tag justifies the Saints’ bid to take advantage of the big clubs’ transfer cash burning a hole in their pockets. Bear in mind that City paid a fee just shy of £50m to land Everton’s John Stones last summer – and he ended the season unable to get into Pep Guardiola’s team. Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala, both bought by City for in excess of £30m, have also flopped. Luke Shaw, for whom United smashed the record for a teenager, cost £27m three years ago from Southampton. He too cannot get into the Reds’ team.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger (below, right) is searching for a marquee signing to try and keep pace with the big guns, which has taken him to Lyon forward Lacazette – a player that would have crawled over broken glass to sign for him last summer.

This time around, their interest and desperation is so strong that Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has been able to use it to conduct an auction.

The French club have already rejected a bid of £55m from the Gunners for the man who netted 37 times last term. Yet, he looks a more realistic prospect than Monaco striker Mbappe.

At 18 years of age, Mbappe has the world at his feet. Monaco are confident of keeping him for another season, offering him the chance to excel further with regular action in World Cup year.

But do not rule out Real Madrid trumping Arsenal with a silly bid if Ronaldo leaves.

After all, this is becoming such a silly season that even Huddersfield have agreed a £10m fee with City for Aaron Mooy.

When did you think you would ever hear Huddersfield, transfer and £10m in the same sentence?