Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest David De Gea, Lucas Vazquez Rumours

Manchester United are reportedly resigned to losing their star goalkeeper, David De Gea, to Real Madrid this summer despite putting up a big fight to keep the Spaniard.

Along with the rumours linking Sergio Ramos to United have been reports that the Red Devils are demanding £35 million for De Gea despite the 24-year-old having only one year left on his contract at Old Trafford, per the Mirror's David McDonnell. 

The United hierarchy and boss Louis van Gaal are clearly not about to let De Gea go easily, but they do expect him to go before the transfer window closes.

According to Goal.com's Greg Stobart, De Gea wants to move back to Madrid to join Los Blancos, and United are now simply looking to get the best deal for him rather than trying to keep him. 

That could, according to Stobart, see the negotiations drag on throughout the transfer window.

It is unsurprising that United are preparing for his departure. Real desperately need a new goalkeeper given the decline of long-term No. 1 Iker Casillas, and De Gea looks the perfect option.

The Red Devils have experienced in the past the might of Real in the transfer window when they were finally forced to part company with Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.

Ronaldo seemingly always wanted to move to Madrid, and the same is true for De Gea, who wants to return to his hometown that he left from Atletico in 2011 to join United.

Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell is convinced also that the De Gea move to the Bernabeu will go ahead but is less certain about Ramos' potential move to Manchester:

Though the two deals have so far been kept separate, United may look to involve Ramos in the negotiations surrounding De Gea if they feel that will work for them.

Real will hugely benefit from having De Gea at the Bernabeu, as he has matured hugely at United and effectively confirmed the Red Devils a top-four spot in the Premier League last season. But it could be some time yet until they confirm his arrival. 

Lucas Vazquez Return Confirmed

Winger Lucas Vazquez will be the first signing for new Los Blancos boss Rafael Benitez, with the player returning to the Bernabeu after his loan spell at Espanyol.

Espanyol confirmed the move on their official Twitter, translated by Spanish football journalist Samuel Marsden:

According to Tomas Roncero of AS, Madrid will play €1 million for Lucas, along with Castilla winger Burgi being loaned to Espanyol.

The Catalan club had already exercised their right to purchase Lucas after a very good season with the club, but a sub-clause means that Real have now confirmed that they will buy back their academy graduate. 

More than simply his qualities as a winger—he scored three times and provided six assists in La Liga last season, per WhoScored.com—it is interesting to note that Benitez also sees the Spaniard as important for Real to meet the Champions League's quotas on homegrown players, per Spanish football expert Dermot Corrigan:

However, Lucas will offer Benitez a great deal on the pitch, as he has terrific pace and is not afraid to take defenders on.

He is also a very hard-working player and will be valuable for Los Blancos' defensive tactics as well as going forward.