Manchester United Transfer News: Major David De Gea and Dani Alves Rumours

David De Gea's future at Manchester United continues to look uncertain following reports that he snubbed the club's latest efforts to discuss a new deal.

The Spaniard has undoubtedly been United's best player so far this season, but his current deal with the club expires at the end of the 2015-16 term. Real Madrid continue to circle, De Gea seen as Iker Casillas' heir apparent at the Bernabeu, per Sky Sports' Guillem Balague.

According to Adrian Kajumba in the Mirror, the United hierarchy are becoming increasingly concerned that they will not be able to tie the 24-year-old De Gea to the club past next year:

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Mirror Sport understands their worries are growing because their attempts to discuss a new deal with De Gea’s camp have so far fallen on deaf ears. [...]

United are ready to reward De Gea with a new contract worth as much as £140,000 a week, which, if he signed it, would make him the Premier League’s highest paid goalkeeper.

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Rumours have abounded in the past that De Gea is unhappy with life in Manchester. 

AS (h/t the Daily Star's Colin Harvey) recently reported a rift between the Spain international and boss Louis van Gaal, while De Gea's girlfriend, Edurne Garcia, supposedly labelled Manchester "uglier than the back of a fridge," per James Orr in The Independent.

Garcia has made it clear that she, in fact, is a big fan of the city, per B/R UK, perhaps a positive sign for United fans that De Gea's departure could be prevented:

The Red Devils are currently sitting fourth in the Premier League and are on course for a return to the Champions League next season, but they face a crucial encounter with Liverpool on Sunday.

De Gea has been absolutely essential to United's current lofty league position, often single-handedly saving them vital points, and he is arguably the division's best goalkeeper, per football writer Andy Heaton:

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De Gea and Courtois have collectively been worth about 30 points this season. In transfer value, SHOULD be up their with the best strikers.

— Andy Heaton (@Andrew_Heaton) March 15, 2015"

Not only will United be desperate to see him stay at least a few more seasons, but a new contract would, in turn, mean demanding a much higher transfer fee if Real do indeed come knocking.

As a Madrid-born Spaniard who began his career at Atletico, the lure of the Bernabeu is likely great for De Gea, and he will undoubtedly play for Los Blancos one day.

As far as United are concerned, though, they would like to see him stay on at Old Trafford for some time yet, but contract talks need to move forward soon to avoid one of the club's finest assets walking out the door.

It looks as though United may be disappointed by one of their widely rumoured defensive transfer targets in the summer, with Dani Alves set to stay put at Barcelona.

David Ramos/Getty Images

Jeremy Cross of the Daily Star reports that the Brazilian right-back is one of Van Gaal's key targets, but Alves is supposedly not keen on a switch to Old Trafford.

The 31-year-old's current Barca contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he will be available for free in the summer, but Cross suggests he is reluctant to move to the Red Devils.

Alves would be a fine signing for United, bringing great attacking intent and experience to a role currently filled at Old Trafford by an out-of-position Antonio Valencia, with Van Gaal clearly untrusting of Rafael.

United certainly need reinforcements at the back, per B/R UK's Stan Collymore, but Alves looks set to slip through their fingers:

Although the back line have improved throughout the season, a lack of experience still leads to regular mistakes, so often mopped up by De Gea.

While new additions are needed in the summer, United's priority must be to hang on to their superstar goalkeeper, without whom their season would have been significantly poorer.