De Gea ‘shall not leave United so easily’

LONDON: Manchester United are demanding Real Madrid pay £29million for goalkeeper David de Gea.

De Gea has reportedly agreed personal terms worth more than £3.6m a year after tax with the Spanish giants but the clubs are yet to agree a fee for the 24-year-old, who has 14 months left on his contract.

Spanish newspaper Marca claim United want £28.6m for the Spain international but Real want a swap deal involving Portuguese defender Fabio Coentrao.

United have also been linked with troubled Real star Gareth Bale but the Spanish paper claims he will not be offered as part of any deal involving De Gea.

Fellow Madrid-based paper AS, meanwhile, report that De Gea will move to the Bernabeu regardless of whether Real’s current No 1 Iker Casillas stays at the club or not.

Casillas” future in the capital is in doubt after a mixed season in which he has had to compete with Keylor Navas for the starting spot.

The 33-year-old is also reportedly been linked with a host of top European sides including Arsenal.

Reports in Spain suggested Real had seen their initial offer of £21.5m for De Gea turned down by United but it seems increasingly likely that he is on his way.

Old Trafford manager Louis van Gaal said: “I analyse his position and then I say he is Spanish, he is Spanish international, still behind (Iker) Casillas, now a Spanish club is coming, his girlfriend is Spanish, his father and mother come here every week or every two weeks so it is difficult. “He shall not leave us so easily because we have a great club. But he can go to another great club and that is for him to decide.

“We have given a fantastic contract because we want him to stay. I think he has had a fantastic season.” – Daily Mail