1 Summer Transfer Rumour Manchester United Fans Do Not Want to Come True

This summer, this question is an easy one for Manchester United fans.

Of all the myriad rumours swirling around incomings and outgoings, there is one which looms like a dark cloud in blue summer skies. No, not Tom Cleverley's now-confirmed move to Everton. Rather it is the potential departure of David De Gea to Real Madrid, which makes this a summer of discontent.

If there were nothing in it, it would have long since been put to bed. However, on May 18, Louis van Gaal said, per Phil McNulty of BBC Sport: 

"

It is not easy to choose between two great clubs. We would be very happy if he stays. He is Spanish and his girlfriend is Spanish and he can go to another great club, so it is difficult for him to decide.

David De Gea shall not leave us so easily because we are a great club and he wants to participate.

He is still behind Casillas [presumably Van Gaal meant in the Spanish national side] but now a Spanish club is coming.

"

That Spanish club is, of course, Real Madrid, per...well, per everywhere, including Sid Lowe in the Guardian on Sunday. 

United have long since offered De Gea a contract. Van Gaal said in his press conference broadcast on MUTV on 24th April (h/t the Guardian)

"

I am not the boss. I want him to stay. The player is the boss – he can say yes or no. You will have to ask David de Gea, not me. He has to sign.

We have offered him a lot of money.

"

However, De Gea has clearly not signed, and thus the speculation continues. Barely a day goes by without him being mentioned in the papers, as various reports and counter-reports about the amount of money being offered and different players who could be involved in a swap.

It has become like a plaster that is being removed slowly, rather than ripped off in one swift motion. That he has had a contract offer from United on the table since at least the end of April, and has not yet signed it is surely plentiful indication that he would be happy to leave.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

But, of course, nothing has yet been confirmed and so fans are left with a tiny drop of what seems like false hope. Perhaps the two clubs will not come to an arrangement, and so De Gea will have to see out his contract and play for another season.

Perhaps he will somehow decide that the pull of Madrid has dwindled and he cannot live without easy access to the Trafford Centre and sign a new deal with United—although it seems fair to call that a long shot.

For the moment, United fans are resigned to losing De Gea, whether it is this summer or next.

The last time United lost a player to Real Madrid, it was the man who was unquestionably their single-most important player. Sadly, this looks to be what is happening again. This time, according to current reports, there will be no huge windfall of cash to lessen the blow.

It is much to be hoped that next season, Van Gaal will not need his goalkeeper to perform heroic save after heroic save. Replacing De Gea with a 'keeper of equal quality will be a very tall order. On recent form, there may simply not be one available.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Having won players' and fans' player of the year two years in a row at United, he has demonstrated his credentials as the club's outstanding recent performer. It is understandable that him leaving would thus be the transfer rumour United fans really do not want to come true.