Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest David De Gea and Asier Illarramendi Rumours

Real Madrid have been given a boost in their pursuit of Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea with the player's agent seemingly suggesting the Spaniard could be open to a move away from Old Trafford.

Jorge Mendes made no indication that a move for De Gea was imminent, but he also did not commit his player to United beyond his current contract, which expires in 18 months, per Marca (h/t ESPN FC):

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David is amazing, he's brilliant. He's a Man United player and has a contract there. You have to respect that but things change every five minutes.

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Rumours of De Gea moving to the Bernabeu have been ongoing for some time, and it is a story which is set to run and run.

The 24-year-old has been phenomenal for the Red Devils this season, solidifying his place as one of the world's best 'keepers, and he is seen as the natural heir to Iker Casillas at Real.

There is an overwhelming feeling that, as a Spaniard, De Gea will eventually end up at Real as it is where he wants to be, per football writer Miguel Delaney:

The key for United is to keep him at Old Trafford as long as possible, and at present, he certainly seems content at the club having advanced dramatically since he arrived in 2011, per Kicker via the Daily Mail's Simon Jones. 

De Gea is also a significant fan favourite, with United supporters recently indicating they would not wish to see him go to Real, even if it meant Gareth Bale moving the other way, per B/R UK:

Mendes' comments seemingly suggest that De Gea is not long for United, and even if he stays beyond the summer, a Real move is eventually inevitable.

Such is his quality that he is Real's key target, and as with their signing of Ronaldo in 2009, no matter the obstacles, Los Blancos invariably get the players they want eventually. 

Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Asier Illarramendi's future at the Bernabeu seems somewhat in doubt after Real reached a reported £9.7 million deal to sign long-term target Lucas Silva from Cruzeiro, per BBC Sport.

The 21-year-old's arrival means further competition for the defensive midfield spot in Carlo Ancelotti's team for Illarramendi, the Spaniard already having spent much of his Real career on the fringes—he has made only three La Liga starts this season, per WhoScored.com.

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Arsenal and Athletic Bilbao are both supposedly interested in signing up the 24-year-old—who moved to Madrid from Real Sociedad for €32.2 million in 2013—with Illarramendi keen on a move to London, per Marca (h/t Inside Spanish Football's Tom Conn).

However, Real are seemingly not planning on letting Illarramendi go, with Ancelotti suggesting he is still in his plans, per the Guardian:

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We don’t have that idea at the moment. He hasn’t played much recently but that does not alter the confidence we have in him and his importance to the dressing room and the team. I think to have a motivated team you need players who are available and professional in all the training sessions and Illarra is one of them. If I need him I will play him as I have total confidence in him operating in central midfield.

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Certainly Illarramendi has the quality to stay at the Bernabeu and break into the first team having shown increased improvement over recent seasons, per Opta:

Having spent a large chunk of money on him, it would perhaps be foolish for Real to let him go, and at 24 years old, he could yet turn into a world-class player, with Ancelotti clearly still confident in his midfielder's ability.