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United face battle to keep De Gea as Real Madrid lie in wait

Real Madrid are prepared to wait and sign David de Gea on a free transfer when the goalkeeper's Manchester United contract expires in 2016, according to reports.

The Telegraph suggests Real manager Carlo Ancelotti has already sounded out De Gea as his long-term replacement for Iker Casillas, but is prepared to stick with the Madrid veteran and number two Keylor Navas next season.

De Gea has yet to commit his future at Old Trafford and has entered the final 18 months of his current deal, which he signed on arrival from Atletico Madrid for £18.3 million in June 2011.

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However, the Mirror indicates that United are preparing to offer De Gea a bumper £140,000-a-week contract - which would see him become the Premier League's highest paid goalkeeper - in order to ensure he stays in the north west.

His agent, Jorge Mendes, recently claimed De Gea's future changes "every five minutes", with the 24-year-old constantly linked with a move to the Bernabeu.

United manager Louis van Gaal remains confident the Spaniard will sign a new deal, although the club's approach has so far been relaxed.

However, should they fail to get De Gea to sign an extension before next January, the stopper will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club outside of the Premier League.

That could prompt United to cash in on De Gea this summer, should the goalkeeper fail to reach a new agreement with his current club.

Madrid appear to have formidable sway in the chase to sign De Gea; as well as the Spanish capital being his home city, his girlfriend Edurne Garcia Almagro also lives there. However, De Gea is thought to be happy in Manchester.

The newspaper also reports that, with both Bayern Munich and Chelsea not looking to acquire a new goalkeeper, Madrid are clear frontrunners to prise him from United.

Casillas, meanwhile, has two years remaining on his current contract at Madrid but is keen to play in America before he retires, meaning Madrid would likely move for a new goalkeeper next year.

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