De Gea to Real Madrid is the stuff of nightmares for Reds fans

IT’S a recurring nightmare I have been having recently – David de Gea leaving United for Real Madrid.

And worse than that, Gareth Bale moving in the other direction in some kind of swap deal this summer.

The reports here and in Spain just won’t go away that De Gea is top of the most wanted list in Madrid – and that’s despite Jose Mourinho insisting ahead of yesterday’s bitterly disappointing defeat to Newcastle that the club has no intention of selling its better players.

United’s defence boosted by the excellence of the Spanish stopper remains the second meanest in the land (behind League One leaders Wigan), having conceded just 19 in the Premier League.

And if United are to get anywhere near runaway leaders City next season, world class De Gea will be needed. Bale’s injury record isn’t the greatest and I just don’t think he’s what we need at Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, despite the 1-0 defeat to Rafa Benitez’s relegation-threatened Magpies, United remain 8/11 favourites at Betfred to finish second behind the brilliant Blues.

Meanwhile, City are 3/1 favourites to make club history and win the Champions League for the first time.

Their all-time club record scorer Sergio Aguero has been cut to 3/1 second favourite at Betfred to topple Harry Kane in the race for the golden boot.

Kane is the 1/ 2 favourite at Betfred to retain the golden boot for a third successive season. Liverpool’s Mo Salah is on 22 after scoring the second in Liverpool’s win at Southampton, but Aguero, who has scored 14 in the past seven games at the Etihad, is the striker enjoying the richest vein of form in a fascinating three-way battle.

At the bottom, Newcastle did themselves a big favour beating the Reds and are now 7/2 to be relegated, with West Brom, Huddersfield and Stoke all odds-on.