Real Madrid Transfer News: David De Gea Price Slashed by Manchester United

Manchester United will sell goalkeeper David De Gea to Real Madrid if Los Blancos offer €35 million (approximately £25 million, according to XE) for the Spaniard's services.

James McMath of the Express previously reported that United would "demand" €50 million (£35 million), having already rejected an €18 million (£13 million) offer from Real. AS suggests United are willing to compromise over the stopper, who will be available for free at the end of the 2015-16 season:

This transfer has been speculated for months, but progress has been slow. Although the power rests in United's hands—they can dictate whether De Gea sees out the final year of his contract—the player has shown no indication that he wants to extend his deal at Old Trafford.

From a separate AS report, Sport Witness translated a further point of contention that may arise between De Gea and his current club: 

United already possess a ready-made replacement in former Barcelona 'keeper Victor Valdes, who put in an excellent performance during the 0-0 draw with Hull City at the 2014-15 season's end. The club are also said to be pursuing Madrid centre-back Sergio Ramos, per Sky Sports, although B/R UK's Tim Collins suspects this has initiated a "power struggle" between the two sides:

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It's become a transfer saga that's incredibly difficult to predict, a tangled political and financial mess. De Gea might eventually depart and Ramos stay. It's possible that a swap deal could be struck between the clubs.

Or De Gea might simply follow the path forged by [David] Beckham, [Ruud] Van Nistelrooy, [Gabriel] Heinze and [Cristiano] Ronaldo next summer when his contract expires—remember, United don't truly need the money and could view losing the goalkeeper for free in 2016 as a necessary cost to push for trophies next season. 

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De Gea would be an excellent alternative to Iker Casillas, who has seemingly outstayed his welcome in Madrid. The stopper hasn't posted a consistent run of quality form over the last few years and has become slow to react between the posts. He has found out the hard way that if you're past your sell-by date and no longer performing to the level needed, no amount of loyalty can stop the Madridistas' handkerchiefs from waving.

It's likely Casillas' place in the Spain national team will also be under threat if De Gea moves to the capital. He is 10 years older than the former Atletico Madrid star and becoming less revered as the years roll on. De Gea posted a tremendous season for United—winning the club multiple points along the road to Champions League qualification—and is steadily progressing toward his peak.

United's participation in Europe's elite club competition lowers their need to sell. Having returned to the big time and secured a £75 million-per-year kit deal with Adidas, reported by the Independent, this isn't a club that needs funds. Madrid will know this and could be clever enough to wait another year to nab De Gea for nothing.

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The AS-reported price can be considered fair, but only because De Gea's contract isn't far from its expiration date. If he was sitting on a three-year deal, it's likely he'd usurp Gianluigi Buffon as the costliest 'keeper of all time.

Madrid fans will take faith from De Gea's lack of public commitment to United, and with a potential transfer fee outlined, this long-lasting saga could finally be gearing up for a conclusion.