Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on David De Gea, Anderson Ready to Exit

Victor Valdes will only join Manchester United if David De Gea leaves, according to reports.

Worryingly for supporters, Simon Rice of The Independent suggests United "brought Valdes to the club with a view to the veteran replacing" De Gea, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid. Valdes has recently trained with the squad during his free agency in a bid to regain fitness.

Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News follows Rice's line, saying Valdes "would only replace" the current No. 1, "rather than offer back-up." De Gea's contract runs until 2016, but it's anticipated United will have to fend off the Bernabeu lure if he's to remain at Old Trafford beyond this point.

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A new contract has been touted for months, but the 24-year-old keeper is yet to commit. He continues to impress for United, despite the side's poor defensive form this season.

De Gea's match-winning performance against Everton—which saw him save Leighton Baines' penalty and produce two acrobatic last-gasp stops—highlights the talent of a player who has developed into one of the world's best.

Long gone is the mistake-ridden youngster who joined from Atletico Madrid. In his place stands a confident, decisive and top-quality keeper who won both the club's Players' Player and fans' Player of the Year awards last season.

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Carlo Ancelotti continues to rotate Iker Casillas and Keylor Navas, with the former yet to inspire since being dropped by Jose Mourinho in 2012. De Gea recently knocked Casillas out of Vicente del Bosque's Spanish squad and would certainly bring the veteran's glittering Los Blancos career to a humbling close.

Casillas is currently playing like the keeper De Gea used to be—uncertain from crosses, unable to direct his defence—signalling a major power shift. United recently dedicated a social media week to their stopper, perhaps in an attempt to convince him to stay, as noted on Twitter:

One player the Red Devils can do without is Anderson, who recently confirmed he is ready to end his United nightmare. The one-time Brazilian prospect has seen his career stutter with injuries, fitness issues and poor form over the years, leaving him unneeded in Louis van Gaal's developing squad.

"There's always the possibility of returning to Gremio," Anderson told Radio Bandeirantes (h/t Luckhurst)."It's my home and I still support them—everyone knows that. It would allow me to be near my family."

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Anderson's departure makes complete sense; he is yet to start a Premier League game under Van Gaal and can be used to free up a slot in the squad.

Ridding United of his wages will also aid the manager's quest to bring in new players. At 26 years old, Anderson still has time to get his career back on track with regular football elsewhere. Few United supporters will begrudge him this.

Perhaps the extra funds can be used to tempt De Gea with a sizeable contract offer. United will need to produce hefty personal terms if Madrid's interest becomes concrete, as Spanish president Florentino Perez rarely misses out on his major targets. United can nip any interest in the bud by offering De Gea greater incentives in the not-so-distant future.

Until anything is signed, however, the worries will continue.