Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on David De Gea and Ivan Rakitic

Manchester United are preparing themselves for a huge battle with Real Madrid, with reports suggesting the Galacticos will launch a world-record bid in order to convince David de Gea to join their club.

Jamie Anderson of the Express says Spanish reports proclaim Madrid are looking to replace Iker Casillas in the near future and have targeted De Gea as his replacement. The fee is "likely to eclipse the long-standing £33 million goalkeeping transfer record paid for Gianluigi Buffon in 2001."

The goalkeeper has been in world-class form this season, further improving his performance levels from last term when he was named United's player of the year.

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De Gea's current United deal still has 18 months to run, per Anderson, but the player could sit tight for a year and then sign a pre-contract agreement with Los Blancos—meaning he could leave Old Trafford on a free.

Despite the United No. 1's amazing form, he has not managed to keep a huge ratio of clean sheets this season.

He has only five clean sheets in the Premier League, per Squawka.com, and concedes an average of one goal per game.

Despite the interest of the Spanish giants, United are said to be relaxed about De Gea's situation.

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Charles Perrin of the Express says United hope De Gea will sign a £36.5 million deal with the club, tying him down to the Red Devils for an additional five years.

However, when recently asked about De Gea's future at Old Trafford, Louis van Gaal was abrupt in his reply, per James Orr of The Independent:

"That is between the club and the player and it is not open for discussion for the media."

But it seems that the goalkeeper is happy in his surroundings at Carrington, with an influx of Spanish-speaking players and team-mates from his international camp.

Spanish football writer Graham Hunter spoke about this fact in his recent blog, professing that De Gea believes United are on the verge of something special under Louis van Gaal and his management team:

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The strategic question for de Gea and his representatives is whether United as a club, and as a squad, are in step with him - both now and over the next four years? Are they about to move up and become dominant?

The word on the training ground is that de Gea feels aware that 'something is beginning to happen' at the club. That the quality of signings is rising, that Van Gaal is demanding in a way which will benefit those who wish to play and train as De Gea does.

"

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In other news, reports suggest that United will battle Manchester City for the services of Barcelona midfielder, Ivan Rakitic.

Anthony Chapman of the Express writes that the Croatian star is keen on a move to England after falling out of favour at his Catalan club—for which he signed just this summer from Sevilla for £14 million.

Chapman says United also moved for Rakitic before he completed his transfer to the Camp Nou and have now placed a £20 million bid for the player after learning Kevin Strootman will not be sold by Roma in the near future.

Rakitic would be an interesting signing for LvG and would give United a different kind of option in the centre of the pitch. The player is certainly not a defensive type, but with Michael Carrick or Daley Blind behind him, he could be a very good operator for the Red Devils.

He would link play seamlessly from back to front and would give United's host of top-class attackers intricate service.

A fee of £20 million seems like a very good price for a player who is 26 years old and clearly good enough for the Premier League.

Rakitic is a cultured individual in the mould of Juan Mata. However, while the Spaniard struggles to play the midfield position when asked to perform deeper, Rakitic would have no such issues.