Transfer Rumors: David De Gea wants to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid this summer

Real Madrid will probably be in the market for a goalkeeper this summer, and Manchester United’s David De Gea is the most likely target. Alex McVey gives you an update on Madrid’s search for a Keylor Navas replacement.

Keylor Navas has finally been starting to show glimpses of the goalkeeping prowess that made him a huge transfer target following his standout performance at the World Cup in 2014. After playing one of his best games of the season in Real Madrid’s disappointing El Clásico defeat, Navas finally managed to keep Madrid’s first clean sheet of the Champions League in Real’s 3-0 thrashing of Atletico Madrid.

However, that’s probably not enough to salvage Navas’ long-term place as Real Madrid’s #1. Navas has, on the whole, had a sub-par season, recent performances notwithstanding.

Real Madrid are, in all likelihood, going to be searching for a new goalkeeper this summer. Guillem Balague has reported that Florentino Perez no longer desires the services of the Costa Rican shot-stopper.

One name that seems to have been consistently linked with Real Madrid for a number of years is Manchester United’s David de Gea. In fact, de Gea’s transfer seemed to be a near certainty, until the infamous deadline day fax machine scandal, in which the failure to capture de Gea’s signature was blamed on the technical difficulties involved with the fax machines used to conduct transfer business.

In a deep dive goalkeeper scouting analysis earlier this year, I wrote that David De Gea would be the most likely candidate to replace Navas between the sticks at Madrid:

"I think this transfer is nearly certain to go through… Real Madrid are launching “Operation De Gea 2,” and are hell-bent on signing the Spanish keeper this summer. Perez is not one to be denied a flashy transfer, so he will probably be looking to finally catch the one that got away, and put de Gea’s name to paper sooner rather than later. Given de Gea’s Spanish pedigree and big-name status, it only makes sense that he will be commanding Real Madrid’s goal next season."

More from The Real Champs

• The Xabi Factor: What Alonso could bring to Real Madrid as manager
• Manchester City hold talks over Real Madrid target
• Real Madrid player confirms he is playing with a fracture
• Real Madrid superstar rejected Premier League clubs confirmed
• Spaniard ready to join Real Madrid instead of Liverpool

Reading the tea leaves from recent transfer rumors, it sounds like my prediction was spot on.

Marca is reporting that de Gea has already asked Manchester United to sell him to Los Blancos this summer, paving the way for a big money transfer deal.

This report indicates that de Gea may cost Perez and Real upwards of 70 million euros, although the negotiations may also involve discussions about the outbound sale of Alvaro Morata or want-away midfielder James Rodriguez.

David De Gea is a world class shot-stopper, and has bailed Manchester United out on a number of occasions and has kept them in games almost single-handedly at times.

Someone who can keep up with a defense that is prone to mental lapses would be a perfect fit for a Madrid squad whose defenders are talented, although not always disciplined across the full 90 minutes as we have seen time and time again this season.

Stay tuned for updates on the possible transfer!