David De Gea latest: Louis van Gaal wants goalkeeper sold to Real Madrid so Jasper Cillessen can be signed before Saturday

Manchester United manager wants long-running saga resolved before first match of the season

Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen has been linked with United (GETTY IMAGES)

Louis van Gaal has reportedly told Manchester United officials to "unlock" negotiations with Real Madrid so that David De Gea can be sold and Jasper Cillessen be brought in to replace him.

According to Spanish publication AS, De Gea's below-par performance in the pre-season friendly defeat to PSG has caused Van Gaal serious concern with fears the long-running transfer saga is distracting the goalkeeper from his game.

Van Gaal recently expressed his frustration: “We have a situation on our hands that is not good for the player, not good for us and not good for the club where the player wants to move to”.

Wary that the tug of war between Manchester United and Real Madrid could be a distraction and that the exit of De Gea after the season has begun potentially destabilising, Van Gaal has reportedly asked that negotiations be "unlocked" and that officials end the battle and sell De Gea.

David De Gea in training with Manchester United (Getty Images)

Van Gaal wants to move quickly for Netherlands international Cillessen who has been identified as a worthy replacement for De Gea. Ideally, Van Gaal would have Cillessen in place before Manchester United's first match of the season, against Tottenham on Saturday.

Executive vice-chairman and chief negotiator Ed Woodward is understood to be against letting De Gea leave, unless Sergio Ramos comes in the other direction. He believes allowing one of the club's best players to leave for the Bernabeu, again, would weaken United's standing as one of the world's biggest clubs.

It's a financially risky position considering De Gea' contract has just a year to run. If the Spain international remains at Old Trafford he can leave for nothing in 12 months rather than be sold for a fee potentially close to £30m.