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David De Gea transfer news: Goalkeeper could stay at Manchester United next season with Real Madrid to offer £3.5m signing-on fee

Real Madrid could be forced to wait until De Gea is out of contract but have 'informally agreed' goalkeeper will join them for free next year

Tom Sheen
Thursday 16 July 2015 12:53 BST
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Manchester United could keep David De Gea next season and lose him for free next summer, according to reports in Spain.

Real Madrid have been hot on the heels of the Spanish goalkeeper since the end of the season but United are refusing to sell for less than their valuation, despite the 24-year-old heading into the final year of his contract.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the Spanish giants could now wait until next summer, when De Gea will be a free agent, and pay him a €5million (£3.5m) signing-on fee directly.

The paper reports that Real Madrid are happy to wait until the 2016-17 season and will not pay the €40m (£28.2m) asking price or include Sergio Ramos in any deal.

Real Madrid have made an 'informal deal' with the player and representatives that he will choose the club when his contract expires - however, him moving in a year would represent a 'plan B', plan A is still to sign him before the start of this season.

De Gea is keen on a move to Real Madrid but is currently with the rest of the United squad in the US for the club's pre-season tour. That will make negotiating a deal difficult as Real Madrid are on a pre-season tour of their own in Australia.

Rival Spanish newspaper AS report that United boss Louis van Gaal is the biggest obstacle to getting a deal complete, with the manager still insisting that Ramos be part of a deal.

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