De Gea the £50m shot-stopper! Man Utd slap on mega price tag to stave off Real Madrid MANCHESTER UNITED have placed a world-record £50million valuation on goalkeeper David de Gea in a bid to fend off Real Madrids growing interest. And they will attempt to persuade the Spain No1 to stay at Old Trafford by offering him a £200,000-a-week five-year contract worth about £52m. Madrid-born De Gea, 24, is happy at United but is bound to be tempted by the chance to move back home and play for Real as Iker Casillass long-term replacement, even though his formative years were spent at their city rivals Atletico. United have made De Geas future their top priority but the player is likely to want to wait until the summer before making any final decision because by then he will know if Louis van Gaal has guided the club back into the Champions League. If he rejects a new deal, Untied will have little option but to cash in on De Gea because his value will plummet during the final season of the five-year deal he signed following his move from Atletico in 2011 for £18.6m - a British-record fee for a goalkeeper.The new £50m valuation underlines De Geas development into one of the worlds best keepers after a faltering start to his United career when he struggled to deal with the physicality of the English game. The world-record fee for a goalkeeper remains the £32.6m Juventus paid for Gianluca Buffon 14 years ago. United have played down suggestions they could include De Gea in a swap deal with Gareth Bale. Club sources say while there is interest in Bale, Van Gaals priority remains strengthening defence and midfield with moves for Mats Hummels and Kevin Strootman. And Uniteds worldwide fan base have made their feelings clear. Responding to a question on the MUST (Manchester United Supporters Trust) Facebook page, 99 per cent of supporters said they would prefer to keep De Gea than sign the Wales superstar. A MUST spokesman said: With this in mind it signals the challenge Ed Woodward [Uniteds executive vice-chairman] and the Glazers have to get Uniteds most popular player signed up on a new contract, before Real Madrid attempt to prise him away. De Gea may be rested for Fridays FA Cup tie at Cambridge, with Van Gaal considering giving a debut to Victor Valdes, the former Barcelona star who recently signed an 18-month contract. Valencia are interested in signing midfielder Darren Fletcher, Uniteds longest-serving player. West Brom are also said to be preparing a bid.
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:50:04 +0000
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