Real Madrid are reportedly plotting a £100 million bid to sign David de Gea, with Los Blancos confident of securing a record deal for the Manchester United goalkeeper.
According to a report by Manchester Evening News, Real Madrid are set to test Manchester United’s resolve with a £100 million bid to sign David de Gea in the summer transfer window. Los Blancos are confident that the offer, which would shatter the world record fee for a goalkeeper, will be good enough to finally land the Spaniard.
De Gea’s career trajectory has only been upwards since he joined Manchester United. Over the last seven years, he has gone from a lanky, underconfident talent to being one of the best goalkeepers in the world, epitomised by maiden Golden Glove winning campaign in the 2017-18 Premier League season.
But, with the tag of being among the best in his position, also comes widespread interest from the best clubs in the world. And, the clubs don’t come any bigger than Real Madrid, whose pursuit of de Gea has been well documented ever since Manchester United managed to keep hold of him in bizarre circumstances in the summer of 2015.
Since the failure to sign him three years ago, Los Blancos have been constantly trying to bring him to the Bernabeu, but to no avail. And, it is hardly surprising that Real Madrid are back in the market for de Gea in the aftermath of Zinedine Zidane’s departure from the club.
The Frenchman had been a staunch supporter of Keylor Navas, who has been rather inconsistent over the last two seasons, and is likely to be relegated to being the backup goalkeeper. Unsurprisingly, de Gea is the priority target for Real Madrid once again, with Kiko Casilla likely to be shown the exit door.
And this time, Manchester United should be wary of the threat that the European champions pose in the transfer market for their shot stopper. Real Madrid have named Julen Lopetegui as Zidane’s successor, and while his appointment may have come with loads of controversy, the Spaniard is known to have a fantastic relationship with the Manchester United No. 1.
It was under Lopetegui’s tutelage when de Gea first bloomed on the international scene, with the then Under-21 manager full of praise for his “sensational” goalkeeper as Spain were on course to winning the Under-21 Euro. With de Gea coming into his own for the senior side under Lopetegui’s charge as well, it is clear that the two have a lot of admiration for each other.
And, Real Madrid might just use this relationship to swoop the 27-year-old away from Manchester United, especially in the wake of comments that saw him refuse to rule out a move to the Bernabeu. United though, are likely to take heart from the fact that de Gea has always been the consummate professional, and has also iterated that he is happy at Old Trafford.
But, Real Madrid are now set to test their resolve with an astounding £100 million bid that they believe can finally seal the deal. If the deal goes through, it will shatter the world record fee for a goalkeeper, but Manchester United are adamant that they will not sell the player at any cost, and will instead concentrate on tying him down to a new deal.
De Gea is unlikely to agitate for a move, but Manchester United will have to move quickly if they are to keep him away from the clutches of Real Madrid, with just two years left on his current contract. But, the uncertainties of 2015 are certainly back for now, and a long summer window looms for the Red Devils.
