Real Madrid Transfer News: Victor Valdes Offered, Latest David De Gea Rumours

While talk has raged all summer about a Manchester United goalkeeper joining Real Madrid, not many would have anticipated Victor Valdes being that man.

According to Sport, the former Barcelona man has been offered to Los Blancos by his agent, Gines Carvajal. The piece claims that Valdes’ representative has a “close relationship” with Los Blancos president Florentino Perez.

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

The article outlines the current predicament facing the capital club following the departure of legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas:

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Madrid, who are also negotiating with Espanyol for Kiko Casilla, are interested in signing David de Gea from United, but talks with the Premier League side have not gone to plan so far. Man United are asking for around 25 million euros, which Madrid are not ready to play because the player's contract ends in 2016. 

Carvajal's advice to Perez has been to sign De Gea on a free next summer and to bring in Valdes in the meantime. 

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It’d be a big surprise to see Valdes leave the Red Devils for the home of his former arch enemies. The former Barcelona player was a critical component in the Blaugrana side which swept all before them under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola and was an immensely popular figure at the Camp Nou. Would he really tarnish his legacy by signing for Los Blancos?

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

James Robson of the Manchester Evening News thinks the World Cup winner, who has been left out of the squad for United’s pre-season tour, is definitely too good to sit on the bench:

Real’s first choice looks to have been David De Gea for a while, though, and if they’re chasing a long-term option to fill the void left between the sticks by the departing Casillas, there’s no better candidate. However, negotiations between the two clubs, it would seem, have reached an impasse.

As noted by Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail, De Gea has travelled on the tour and is likely to play plenty of games with Valdes absent. Ladyman did admit there is “confusion” when it comes to the player’s future, however. Miguel Serrano of Marca also wrote that the deal is “in a rut” at this juncture.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Serrano claims that the Red Devils still want to swap their No. 1 for Sergio Ramos and Keylor Navas. But Real will not contemplate the prospect of the former leaving after Casillas’ departure, unless it was for an “irresistible offer.”

Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News thinks all these circumstances point towards De Gea staying with United for another season:

If the Spanish international does stick around it means the Red Devils could potentially lose the Madrid-born goalkeeper on a free transfer in 2016. But given the professional attitude the Spaniard has showcased throughout this entire affair, and with the European Championships looming next summer, De Gea is unlikely to kick up a fuss.

Clint Hughes/Associated Press

Football journalist Greg Stobart thinks the former Atletico Madrid man will still join the La Liga giants but praised his attitude throughout the saga:

From Madrid’s perspective, getting De Gea next summer for free makes a lot of business sense. After all, the club would be picking up the best young goalkeeper in the world for nothing and would potentially have him in situ for the best part of a decade. But the departure of Casillas does leave Real with a problem.

Navas is a fine goalkeeper and Kiko Casilla, who Sport claim Los Blancos are negotiating with, is a solid option. But filling the hole left by the former skipper will be an almighty challenge, requiring someone of admirable temperament and superb ability. With that in mind, only De Gea will do for Real.