Manchester United have offered to make David de Gea the world’s best-paid goalkeeper on £200,000 a week to keep him at Old Trafford.
Fears are growing at United that De Gea will return to Spain and join Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract runs out next summer.
So far there has been no breakthrough in negotiations and manager Louis van Gaal admitted yesterday that the club have made De Gea a huge offer to persuade him to stay.
‘We have offered him a lot of money,’ said Van Gaal. ‘It takes a long time now, so it can always happen. I want him to stay but I am not the boss. The player is the boss, he can say yes or no. You will have to ask David de Gea not me. He has to sign.’
United’s offer of £180,000 a week plus bonuses would eclipse the salaries of Manchester City’s England international Joe Hart, Gianluigi Buffon at Juventus, Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer and Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas.
But the feeling inside the Old Trafford dressing room is that De Gea will leave to replace Casillas at the Bernabeu next summer, five years after joining United from Atletico Madrid for £17.8m.
Having overcome a difficult start in English football, the 24-year-old Spaniard has been United’s outstanding performer this season and was nominated for PFA Player of the Year earlier this month.
United would demand £30m if Real try to sign him this summer and Van Gaal has already prepared for the prospect of De Gea leaving as a free agent next year by bringing in former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes.
Meanwhile, Memphis Depay had a secret meeting with United on Wednesday as the club look to tie up a move for the PSV Eindhoven winger.
Depay, 21, jetted to England with representatives including his agent Kees Ploegsma for a summit with Van Gaal.
United are leading the hunt for the pacy Netherlands international but face opposition from Paris Saint-Germain, while Liverpool have also expressed an interest.
Van Gaal, who worked with Depay at the World Cup, made inquiries over the player’s availability last summer but decided to keep track of his progress rather than make a move. – Daily Mail