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Football

06th Feb 2018

Manchester United attempt to ward off Real Madrid interest in David De Gea with enormous price-tag

Get ready for a long summer

Reuben Pinder

Real Madrid are still chasing the Spain international.

David De Gea is likely to be caught in the middle of a transfer saga once again, with Real Madrid set to make another attempt to sign the goalkeeper at the end of this season.

Manchester United are determined to keep the player and have informed Real Madrid that they will demand £115m for him, regardless of the fact his contract runs out in 2019.

Florentino Perez has been after David De Gea for years now and almost signed him in the summer of 2015 but for an administrative error. The Real Madrid president could be in for a busy summer as the board at the Bernabeu plan a squad overhaul after a disappointing season.

De Gea has been key to United staying in the top four this season; only Lukasz Fabianski has made more saves than him thus far, as United’s defence continues to concede goalscoring opportunities. The back five are not helped by a midfield base which often looks disjointed and ill-disciplined.

Keeping hold of De Gea will be a priority for José Mourinho in the summer window but it could become a problem as his contract runs down.

Sport report that Madrid will not meet United’s demands and instead prefer to wait until the goalkeeper is out of contract in 2019, keeping Keylor Navas between the sticks in the meantime. Madrid also have an interest in Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois, but Paris Saint-Germain are also keen on the Belgian, while De Gea’s is Madrid’s first choice.

De Gea has reportedly demanded to be paid £375,000 a week as part of a new contract, which would see his wages rise above Paul Pogba’s.

Get set for another tug-of-war between United and Madrid, it’s going to be a long summer.

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