Respected Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague has claimed that Manchester United’s David De Gea is still wanted by Real Madrid, with a bid expected next summer again.

The two clubs were involved in a deadline day farce earlier this summer, with De Gea’s move collapsing at the very last hour of the transfer window as Real reportedly failed to submit documents on time to authorities, which they blame United for, although the Manchester club has denied making any mistake.

De Gea was supposed to head to Madrid in a player plus cash deal which would have seen Keylor Navas head the other way to Manchester. Both players have gone on to put on some impressive performances for their respective clubs, with Navas in especially fine form, having conceded just three goals so far this season, but that is unlikely to convince the Real Madrid management, especially president Florentino Perez, to stick with Navas as the No.1 goalkeeper for the club.

"Real Madrid don't make decisions in terms of big signings based on sporting reasons, it is mainly down to business plans. De Gea fits the business plan of having a superstar in goal instead of Keylor Navas who is very good. So I wouldn't be surprised if they go back for De Gea," Balague told Sky Sports.

Real waited until the deadline day in the summer to make a bid for De Gea, and at the time, the 24-year-old was heading into the last year of his contract with United. He was back in goal after the end of the transfer window and has since gone on to sign a new four-year deal with the club, with many claiming is just to ensure that United get a more sizeable fee from Madrid next summer, or which comes with a release clause in case Madrid do come calling again next summer.

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