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Real Madrid face a race against time to secure a move for David De Gea with just hours to go until the Spanish transfer window closes and halts their attempts to land the Manchester United goalkeeper.
Real are determined to land the 24-year-old at the final minute, and have asked current goalkeeper Keylor Navas to postpone his flight out of Madrid in case he is required for negotiations given that the Spanish club are willing to offer the Costa Rica international in a player-plus-cash deal.
De Gea has not made a single appearance for United this season after manager Louis van Gaal claimed his focus is not right to be playing Premier League football with his future still in limbo. Despite this, Real are still intent on signing him this season, despite his contract expiring next summer and ultimately becoming available on a free transfer.
Manchester United's alternative 23-man squad of transfer targets
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With this in mind, Real asked Navas to remain on stand-by in case he needed to fly to Manchester to complete a deal, despite Costa Rica taking on Brazil in New Jersey on Saturday. With the Spanish transfer window closing at midnight on Monday, Real are already up against it to persuade United to sell, and after the Premier League club missed out on landing Sergio Ramos this summer they are in no rush to let De Gea go to a Champions League rival.
United are holding out for a fee around £35m, but Real are only willing to up their interest to €40m (£29m) and hence Navas could become crucial in off-setting the fee. Having already signed a goalkeeper this summer in the form of Kiko Casilla, Real already have a back-up should De Gea join, meaning that they can allow Navas to follow club legend Iker Casillas out of the door.
However, according to the Daily Mail, there remains serious obstacles in completing a move with both United harbouring concerns over the talent of Navas and the goalkeeper himself unsure of whether he wants to pursue a move to Old Trafford.
Van Gaal has shown a tendency to run a thin line with his players already, with De Gea exiled from the squad and former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes put up for sale after allegedly refusing to play for an Under-21s fixture.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas (Getty Images)
The club instead are attempting to bring Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen to Old Trafford, with the 26-year-old stopper working with Van Gaal during his time as Netherlands manager.
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