Manchester United transfer news: Club want 'world record' £33m fee for David De Gea - and don't mind letting him leave for free next year

United are demanding a record fee for the 24-year-old

(Getty Images)

Manchester United are demanding Real Madrid pay a record fee for David De Gea - but don't mind letting him leave for free next summer, according to a report.

The record fee for a goalkeeper saw Italian icon Gianluigi Buffon move from Parma to Juventus back in 2001 for £32.6million; United want Real Madrid to pay more for De Gea, according to the Manchester Evening News.

The report states that if Real Madrid are not prepared to pay above that fee for the 24-year-old then United would prefer to keep him for the final year of his contract and risk losing him for nothing next summer.

The Independent understands that no bid has yet been made for De Gea by Real Madrid.

De Gea was easily the best player for United in Louis van Gaal's debut season at Old Trafford, hence the willingness to keep him for an extra season as United look to challenge for the Premier League and Champions League with another £150m budget.

Manchester United are currently moving for Real Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos and had an opening bid of £32m rejected. De Gea was not part of a package in that opening gambit.

David De Gea's property on Right Move (rightmove.co.uk)

De Gea appears desperate to move back to Spain this summer and has already put his £2.75m Altrincham mansion up for sale.