Manchester United Transfer: Louis Van Gaal eyes David De Gea transfer to Real Madrid

Manchester United has reportedly agreed to sell Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea to Real Madrid for a tag price of £35 million (AU$73.2 million). However, United boss Louis Van Gaal claimed that the 24-year-old Spaniard can only move to Bernabeu if Real pay the same amount of money the Red Devils shelled out upon acquiring De Gea.

According to the Daily Mail, Real will launch a £25 million (AU$52.3 million) bid to lure the Spanish stopper away from Old Trafford, but United will likely reject the offer after Van Gaal challenged the Spanish champs to “pay the same level.”

"We have to pay a lot of money for all the players we want, and we want the same level when we have to sell,” Van Gaal said, reports Express. “In recent years Manchester United have paid a lot of money on players and not received a lot for our players.”

However, the Dutch manager admitted United cannot let De Gea go easily. The 64-year-old Van Gaal confessed that the Spanish international has been the team’s best player for three years and the team wants to keep his service.

Van Gaal confirmed De Gea was left out of the club’s Premier League opener against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday because the Spanish international has been unsettled by talks of joining Real. The former Napoli coach felt De Gea was not focused heading into the match and was replaced by Sam Johnstone.

“We’ve observed him in training sessions and matches and he’s not the David de Gea of last year,” Van Gaal said, the Irish Examiner reported. “He tries and does (his) utmost best, but it’s a difficult situation.”

United won its first game in the new Premier League season 1-0 against Tottenham. Kyle Walker’s bizarre own goal in the first half gave the Red Devils the victory after both team went scoreless in the second period. United’s next match will be on Aug. 15 against Aston Villa.

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