Manchester United Transfer News: David De Gea Will Stay, Says Agent Jorge Mendes

David De Gea will "stay" with Manchester United amid interest from Real Madrid, according to his agent.

Jorge Mendes suggested the Spaniard is likely to extend his Old Trafford tenure but hinted this doesn't mean he'll remain with the club in the long run. "He has one year left on his contract and I think that he will stay in Manchester," Mendes told Dan Roan of BBC Sport. "The player will decide, but he's happy there, at the moment."

This is perhaps the best result United fans can ask for in this scenario. Madrid's reported interest, per Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail, is extremely difficult to resist as a player, let alone for one who was born in the Spanish capital. It's becoming the common consensus that, while De Gea may extend his current deal, the lure of the Bernabeu will eventually prove too strong.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Sky Sports' Guillem Balague recently highlighted as much:

"

He is negotiating a new deal with Manchester United and that seems to be the priority now. So I think he will sign a new contract and become the best-paid goalkeeper in the world, ahead of (Madrid’s Iker) Casillas perhaps.

"

Balague also noted that both De Gea and Victor Valdes, who United brought in during the January transfer window, both see their current contracts expire in 18 months. "And it is very clear that Real Madrid want De Gea," he continued. "Now the problem is that Real Madrid will have to convince Manchester United to sell, and that is the second part of the story."

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

During Monday's run to the transfer deadline, Balague reiterated his belief when taking control of the B/R UK Twitter account:

In 2007, Cristiano Ronaldo inked a new United deal while batting away rumours that he would head to La Liga. He moved to Madrid in a world-record transfer little over two years later, having won everything worth winning with United. De Gea's situation is likely to progress in a similar fashion, except without the major trophy haul.

Denis Doyle/Getty Images

This has the potential to even speed things up. The 24-year-old stopper can be considered one of the world's best, someone who would have the opportunity to almost guarantee silverware with Madrid. United are struggling to gain Champions League football, a battle which is unlikely to get much easier as the Premier League teams around them continue to improve.

It's ominous when Mendes himself, someone who is famed for shunting his clients around in big-money deals, indicates De Gea may not be satisfied in the long-term at United. The free transfer of Valdes would suddenly make greater sense, and indeed, aid the English club's hunt for a replacement. That said, he is already 33, so he doesn't have the longest playing time left.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Likely news of De Gea signing a new contract will be met with celebrations by many United fans, but it's optimistic to think he will remain in England for years to come.

United would perhaps be delaying the inevitable and covering their own backs—De Gea can move for free at the end of 2015-16 if he doesn't sign a new deal—in anticipation of receiving around £50 million for his services. Similar to Ronaldo's departure, this is likely a scenario United can only avoid for so long.