Spanish giants open with surprisingly low offer.
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Manchester United gossip
Real Madrid have reportedly decided to open the bidding for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea this summer at just £13m, according to the Daily Mail.
The Spanish giants are seemingly keen not to pay over the odds for the 24-year-old, who enjoyed a superb run of form in the Premier League in 2014/15, becoming viewed by many as his side’s best player over the course of the season.
With Iker Casillas now arguably past his best at the Bernabeu, it seems Real are on the lookout for a replacement, though the Mail claims that De Gea himself is uneasy over the presence of the legendary shot-stopper.
This could have some link to Madrid’s surprisingly low bid, with their top target perhaps uncertain over whether he would be playing regularly upon moving to the Spanish capital, while he is surely guaranteed to remain first choice if he does choose to stay at Old Trafford.
Victor Valdes is the main challenger for his place in the United team, but the former Barcelona man has been unable to displace him so far, playing just twice in the season just past, and only being brought in once De Gea went off injured in the 1-1 draw with Arsenal.
The Mail adds that De Gea has rejected a £200,000-per-week contract from United, which suggests he could still be thinking of leaving this summer, or at least in the near future if he does not renew over the next few months.
Still, £13m does not seem like the kind of fee that would persuade the Red Devils to sell their star player, with the Daily Star reporting last week that a fee closer to £30m would be more realistic.