Real Madrid offer David De Gea £12 million as signing on fee to see out contract at Manchester United

De Gea did not feature in the matchday squads for United’s opening two league fixtures

Spanish giants Real Madrid will offer Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea £12 million in signing on fee next summer in an effort to make the young goalkeeper see out the final year of his contract at Old Trafford, The Mirror reports. The 24-year-old was left out of United’s matchday squad for the opening two games of the Premier League campaign, but Madrid are reportedly unwilling to match the English club’s asking price of £35 million.

United paid Atletico Madrid nearly half of that amount – £17.8 million to be precise – a British record for a goalkeeper, for the then 20-year-old, and are refusing to let De Gea go on the cheap. He struggled initially to adjust to the physical nature of the game in England, but his stock has risen considerably since arriving at Old Trafford and he is now considered as one of the world’s best goalkeepers at present.

United’s Player of the Year for the last two seasons running, De Gea has been a long-term target for the 10-time European Cup winners. Madrid let go of long-serving goalkeeper and club captain Iker Casillas in an effort to step up their chase of De Gea but are yet to launch a concrete bid for the young custodian.

It is now understood that Madrid, who promoted Keylor Navas as first choice goalkeeper and also signed Kiko Casilla from fellow La Liga club Espanyol, are ready to wait and sign De Gea on a free transfer next summer than engage in discussions with United.

Sergio Ramos stays put at Real Madrid

Relations between the two clubs in questions are strained at the moment following the transfer saga of De Gea as well as Sergio Ramos. The 29-year-old defender was one of United’s top summer targets, but Madrid were unwilling to let go of the talismanic figure, especially in the wake of Casillas’ departure.

Despite Ramos hinting indirectly that he was looking at leaving Madrid, he has now put pen to paper on an improved deal which will keep him at Real Madrid until 2020. Suggestions that Ramos was using the link with United just to get a better deal in Spain has also irked the English side’s Dutch manager Louis van Gaal.

The 65-year-old stated last week that De Gea ‘does not want to play for Manchester United’ but is continuing playing hardball with Madrid and will refuse to let go of him unless their asking price is met.