David De Gea offered 'a lot of money' to stay at Manchester United, says Louis van Gaal - reported to be £200,000-a-week

Spanish goalkeeper is a target for Real Madrid

(GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United are desperate to keep goalkeeper David De Gea and have reportedly offered the Spaniard a new £200,000-a-week to stave off interest from Real Madrid.

United boss Louis van Gaal says the club have offered "a lot of money" to try and keep the 24-year-old in Manchester.

De Gea has been the form goalkeeper in the Premier League this season and is on the six-man shortlist to be named PFA Player of the Year.

With long-time No 1 Iker Casillas now 33 and on the decline, Real Madrid are very keen on De Gea - a former Atletico Madrid star - whilst his girlfriend, Edurne Garca, still lives in the Spanish capital.

Louis van Gaal (GETTY IMAGES)

In January Van Gaal said he expected the 24-year-old to extend his contract, which expires in June 2016, but three months on, there are no signs of progress.

That is not due to a lack of willing on United's part. They have offered the Spaniard a bumper new deal as they are desperate for him to stay, Van Gaal has revealed.

"It takes a long time now," Van Gaal said at his Friday press conference. "It can always happen. I am not the boss. I want him to stay. The player is the boss he can say yes or no. You will have to ask David de Gea [if he is staying], not me.

"He has to sign. We have offered him a lot of money."

Real Madrid are seeking a replacement for Iker Casillas (GETTY IMAGES)

The club have been scouring the planet for players in other positions, most notably in midfield and in the wide positions.

Van Gaal would neither confirm nor deny reports he had met with PSV Eindhoven forward Memphis Depay.

"I don't discuss it with the media," Van Gaal said of the Eredivisie top scorer, who was a regular for Holland under the United manager.

"I have a lot of relationships with players. I cannot buy all the players I've coached already."

Ilkay Gundogan is also of interest to the club, although reports that claim United are on the verge of signing the Borussia Dortmund midfielder are believed to be wide of the mark. Van Gaal could rekindle his interest in Gundogan's team-mate Mats Hummels and Nathaniel Clyne has also been linked with the club.

Ilkay Gundogan has been linked with Manchester United (Getty Images)

Van Gaal had to wait until towards the end of the transfer window last summer before completing all his signings and he concedes that may be the case this summer too.

"Of course it's an advantage (to start early) but it's also dependable on the market, which players are free, which players want the clubs in the world to sell. It's not so easy and I don't want to buy every player," he said.

Additional reporting from PA