Manchester United Transfer News: Latest Sergio Ramos, David De Gea Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly willing to raise the stakes in their pursuit of Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos this summer, but only if Los Blancos increase their bid for Red Devils goalkeeper David De Gea.

That’s according to David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror, who wrote that United have had a second bid of £30 million rejected for the Spaniard, one which the Red Devils feel represents “fair valuation” for a 29-year-old.

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Now it seems the Old Trafford outfit are unwilling to increase their offer any further for the dynamic defender unless Real meet United’s reported £35 million valuation of De Gea. According to McDonnell, Los Blancos’ initial bid for the 24-year-old stopper was just shy of £20 million.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell recently ran the rule over some of the biggest rumours surrounding United at the moment:

While it seems as though a standoff between the two has formed, these sums spiralling out of control would do neither team any good. After all, what point would there be in United splashing say £45 million on Ramos and Real £35 million on De Gea, when the two teams could negotiate for £30 million and £20 million, respectively?

It would seem as though image is vital for these two, especially the tag of “world record fee,” as noted here by James Robson of the Manchester Evening News:

However, McDonnell noted in his piece that there’s “acceptance” from both parties that these deals could be amalgamated.

At the moment, it seems as though it’s a move which would make sense from both standpoints. After all, United are in desperate need of quality defensive reinforcements, and Ramos wants to join the Old Trafford club too, as McDonnell wrote. In addition Real clearly see De Gea as the long-term heir to their legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Bleacher Report’s Rob Blanchette certainly thinks a deal involving both players would benefit United:

But former Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand expressed some concerns on his No. 5 website (h/t Jonathan Green of the Daily Star):

"

I still can't see it. I think he'll stay at Madrid, where he'll play alongside Raphael Varane or Pepe next season.

They've got three top centre-halves there and unless they've got another Varane coming through, I can't see them letting him go. It's a lot of money to spend on a guy who's 29 with no resale value so it's a huge, huge deal.

"

David Ramos/Getty Images

Ramos would add so much to this United team, though. While he remains a little exuberant and ill-disciplined, the Spaniard is one of the most dynamic centre-backs in world football, possessing all the traits required to enrich the base of Louis van Gaal’s side and thrive in the Premier League.

But the player's mother doesn't think the 29-year-old will be going anywhere this summer. "No. I think not, let’s go," said Paqui Ramos to La Sexta (h/t AS) when asked if her son wanted to leave the club. "He wants Spain."

Indeed, he’s a key figure for Real Madrid, in terms of his fundamental defensive skills, experience and leadership, as is obvious by the statistics provided here by WhoScored.com:

If both Ramos and De Gea are serious about leaving this summer, it’s going to be very difficult to keep the two deals as separate entities. What it’s likely to mean is that the sagas will continue to rumble on throughout the summer months and any deal, which could potentially be a part-exchange transfer, would be extraordinarily lucrative and subsequently complex.

While United may feel as though Ramos’ desire to join them gives the club an edge in this tug of war, their own asset only has one year remaining on his contract. It’s a precarious game the Red Devils are playing and although they could end this window with a world-class defender, they could just as feasibly see De Gea walk away for free next summer if they don’t tread carefully.