David De Gea didn’t even make the substitutes’ bench for Manchester United‘s opening clash of the Premier League season against Tottenham Hotspur amid interest from Real Madrid, but he is not expected to be sold in the final month of the transfer window.
Louis van Gaal explained that he felt the goalkeeper’s performance may be affected by speculation on a move to the Santiago Bernabeu; however, BBC Sport have reported that Old Trafford chiefs are unlikely to grant the Spaniard a return to Madrid.
De Gea therefore looks likely to see out the remaining year of his contract in Manchester.
American network ABC [via the Daily Star] reported that Los Blancos had tabled a take-it-or-leave-it £21.2m bid for the former Atletico Madrid stopper on Tuesday morning – which they will not be increasing.
According to the Daily Star, however, United want £24.75m for his signature – in one lump sum – while Real have offered £17.7m upfront with £3.5m to follow in instalments.
All signs are thus pointing towards De Gea remaining at the Theatre of Dreams for the 2015-16 campaign, before deciding his own fate in 12 months’ time.
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It is a disappointment that United have allowed the saga to continue into the new season, with van Gaal’s decision to promote new signing Sergio Romero to the No.1 spot last weekend a questionable one considering the Red Devils’ expectations that the Spanish goalkeeper will not be departing.
All eyes will firmly be fixed on who van Gaal names as his No.1 against Aston Villa on Friday evening.