Manchester United Transfer News: David De Gea Staying, Nicolas Gaitan Rumours

Fans at Old Trafford will be glad to hear that Manchester United are willing to dig their heels in and keep hold of David De Gea this summer, while speculation suggests the club are once again looking at Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan.

According to the Daily Mail's Mike Keegan, the Red Devils are willing to risk losing De Gea for nothing next summer unless Real Madrid agree to send centre-back Sergio Ramos in the opposite direction.

Jon Super/Associated Press

The rumours linking De Gea with a move back to Madrid have been rife in recent months, but it appears his fate will be sealed if Ramos signs a contract extension at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Furthermore, Mail Online have revealed that United will not look to sign a centre-back alternative should Ramos spurn their approach, opting to instead stick with the resources at their disposal:

That revelation would suggest that Ramos' signing is seen more as a luxury that is only possible thanks to De Gea's tricky contract circumstances, although manager Louis van Gaal will assuredly be keen to keep hold of his goalkeeper.

Free agent Sergio Romero signed for the English giants this week, but Opta's Orbinho recently showed what a safe pair of hands De Gea had last season when it came to parrying shots out of harm's way:

As one of the biggest clubs in the world, it's hardly surprising United aren't willing to budge on a figure who stands as one of their most valuable players right now and was last term's Player of the Year.

Speaking on talkSPORT's Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast, ex-Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon stated his belief that De Gea is bound for the Spanish capital:

"

If De Gea wants to leave it will be difficult to keep him. It seemed as though United thought it was inevitable and the signing of Romero suggests they decided to do something. Maybe they are playing poker and trying to push Madrid into letting them have Sergio Ramos.

Madrid needs a goalkeeper like De Gea. They let [Iker] Casillas go because they were sure they would get De Gea, and I think in the end De Gea will be coming. That’s my opinion.

"

Despite Romero's arrival, United supporters will be desperate to see De Gea remain at Old Trafford after watching the Spain No.1 rise to become one of the most revered stoppers in Europe.

By the looks of things, Van Gaal will end up with either him or Ramos in United colours, with the ball seemingly in Real's court as to who that may be.

Nicolas Gaitan Rumours Resurface

Rich Schultz/Associated Press

An old target has risen to the fore in Manchester United circles following news that the Premier League outfit will look to Benfica's Gaitan as a replacement for Paris Saint-Germain-bound Angel Di Maria.

Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express cited Italian website Tuttomercato.web in reporting that Van Gaal sees the Argentina international as a replacement for Di Maria following the former's involvement in a pre-season controversy.

Chapman referenced Portuguese newspaper A Bola when stating that Gaitan was offended by team-mate Luisao, who handed the captain's armband to Andreas Samaris after being substituted in their International Champions Cup defeat to New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

It hardly seems like a grave enough concern for Gaitan to suddenly end his five-year stay at the Estadio da Luz, with James Robson of the Manchester Evening News insisting there's no interest from United:

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As I've reported all summer. United not interested in otamendi. Sources say 'he's the new gaitan' No interest in either

— James Robson (@JamesRobsonMEN) July 28, 2015"

Gaitan has made more than 200 appearances for the Eagles since moving to Lisbon in 2010, following Di Maria's path in becoming a Primeira Liga force.

Di Maria is expected to leave Old Trafford in the days to come after failing to board a flight to join up with the United squad in the United States. BBC Sport's Simon Stone quoted PSG boss Laurent Blanc as being hopeful of a deal: "There is a good possibility he could sign, but there is nothing official. We have to have patience a little longer. The outcome is very close."

Stone reported that the fee paid for Di Maria could be £46.5 million, some £13 million shy of the figure United handed Real Madrid for his services this time last year.

No mention is made of how much Gaitan would be expected to cost the club should he move to England, but with Memphis Depay already at Old Trafford, Van Gaal may not feel the urge to splurge on a Di Maria successor.