David De Gea Clause Rumours Fuel Manchester United to Real Madrid Transfer Talk

Manchester United will be forced to include a buy-out clause in any prospective new deal for David De Gea, as the Spanish goalkeeper decides his future with the Red Devils.

Simon Mullock says that with Real Madrid knocking at the player's door, United will have to allow De Gea the opportunity to join Los Blancos if he signs a new contract to stay at Old Trafford.

De Gea has just 17 months to run on his current deal and United are prepared to make the in-form stopper the highest paid goalkeeper in world football—with the temptation of a new £200,000 per week offer, per Mullock.

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But the No. 1's advisers are insisting on the buy-out clause which could eventually see De Gea return to his hometown of Madrid.

The 24-year-old could potentially leave the Premier League for nothing at the end of his deal, so it is vital the Glazer family agree a new contract with him before the next transfer window.

Mullock says De Gea's current market value is £50 million—according to Old Trafford chiefs—but with the player's deal running out, United are unlikely to command anywhere near this figure if they are forced to sell in the summer.

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Sam Lee of Goal.com says Louis van Gaal wants to hold onto De Gea but has not ruled out selling the keeper, leaving the door open for a shock transfer. When the Dutch coach was asked recently about the player's future, he simply replied: "In football, everything is possible. We want to keep him [De Gea]."

De Gea's agent to the stars, Jorge Mendes, has also left the goalkeeper's options open and has hinted at a potential summer transfer, saying, per Lee: "Things change every five minutes."

De Gea has entered the pantheon of the world's best goalkeepers after his phenomenal performances between the sticks for his club.

Paul Campbell of The Guardian recently lauded De Gea's amazing form over the busy English league Christmas period but added he is not yet the very best in the world:

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United’s run of six consecutive victories has coincided with Michael Carrick’s return to the first team, but De Gea has been their best player by far this season.

...

De Gea’s style, statistics and awards are admirable, but he has some way to go before he can match the peerless Manuel Neuer. 

"

Comparisons with Neuer are hardly surprising with De Gea growing into the man he now is. After a difficult first year at United, which saw Sir Alex Ferguson treat the player's involvement with caution, the Spaniard has developed into an almighty presence, after his years in the gym and tough Carrington training regime.

United will take much credit for De Gea's improvements, as they did with Cristiano Ronaldo, but his newly-found star status is likely to attract Madrid and their desire to add him to their stock of Galacticos. 

After United's inconsistent start to life under LvG, De Gea has helped steady the ship and has achieved seven clean sheets in his 23 league appearances, per Squawka.com.

The Dutch coach will not want to lose a player who has become so vital to his shaky defence and United's relatively good stats of keeping the ball out of their own goal is wholly down to De Gea, and not the central defenders on the team.

If De Gea wants a release clause, he is entitled to it. Eventually, he will return to La Liga but if United can keep him for the next few years they can progress and put the club back at the top of English football.