David de Gea desperate for Real Madrid transfer
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is desperate to seal a move to Real Madrid this summer.
The Spain international came close to joining the European champions in the summer of 2015, but an admin error pushed the agreement beyond the transfer deadline. Eventually, the deal was called off by both clubs while De Gea has since remained committed to the cause at Old Trafford.
De Gea currently has two years left on his present United deal, but Don Balon suggests that the 26-year-old is eager to return to Madrid, where he began his career with cross-city rivals Atletico. The shot-stopper has already informed agent Jorge Mendes of his desire, but Real Madrid will still have to lodge a world-record bid for a goalkeeper in order to pursue his signature.
If you think it will happen then you can use a Bet365 Bonus Code to get double odds - though even then you'll only get odds of 4/1 on De Gea moving to Real.
The former Atleti man is valued in excess of £50m at United, and this remains a potentially stumbling block for Los Blancos, who are hoping to utilise their funds in other areas of the field. The signing of Monaco's Kylian Mbappe is one of the priorities for the La Liga holders, and a hefty sum spent on De Gea could diminish their faint hopes of landing the Frenchman, who could cost fees of at least £100m.
Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane is comfortable utilising Keylor Navas as his number one at the Bernabeu, but president Florentino Perez is still desperate to recruit De Gea this summer as he looks to extend the club's brilliant record in the Champions League.
Navas has attracted plenty of European interest this summer, but Paris Saint-Germain look the most likely to pursue his services, should De Gea seal his preferred move back to Spain. De Gea has made 269 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils since arriving from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011.
Whilst Zidane might well have confidence in Keylor Navas, who first came to prominence in the Brazil 2014 World Cup, there would be very few pundits who would argue that he is a better goalkeeper than David De Gea, with the young Spaniard also having time on his side.
Real Madrid have also been linked with another young goalkeeper, in the heir to Gianluigi Buffon, AC Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma, but it looks like he is set to sign a new contract with the Milanese club. Donnarumma has long been tipped to become the best in the game, and even at just the tentative age of 18 years old, he already has a season of first team football at the top flight under his belt.