Real Madrid Transfer News: David De Gea 'Maybe Wants to Go,' Says Louis van Gaal

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal sounded like a man who is ready to admit defeat in his attempts to keep hold of David De Gea this summer, as he revealed the Spain international may want to leave Old Trafford.

The Dutch boss was speaking after the Red Devils’ 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the International Champions Cup, a match in which De Gea, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid, was well short of his usual impeccable standards before being withdrawn at half-time.

“We have a situation that is not favourable for us or the club,” said Van Gaal, per Sacha Pisani of Goal. “Maybe he wants to go.”

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According Pablo Polo of Marca, Real will up their pursuit of the Spaniard in the coming days in the knowledge that if they do reach United’s asking price, which apparently stands at €40 million (£28.1 million), he will be on his way to the Santiago Bernabeu.

As noted by Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail, the 24-year-old’s focus doesn’t seem to be squarely on the task at hand at this juncture:

It’s something that puts the Red Devils in a tough situation. Their season opener against Tottenham Hotspur is on August 8, and losing a player of De Gea’s immense stature and quality would be hugely disruptive. But in his current state of mind, what good would keeping him at United do anyone?

Real will be hoping to capitalise on the situation. Bringing in De Gea for this season, thus immediately replacing the iconic Iker Casillas, would be a huge boost for new manager Rafael Benitez as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours after last term's disappointments.

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But the ball is still firmly in United’s court. Mike Keegan of the MailOnline suggests De Gea will remain at Old Trafford unless Los Blancos are willing to sell Sergio Ramos. The Manchester club’s stance under pressure from Madrid has been admirable.

Bundesliga pundit Jan Aage Fjortoft even suggested there may have been some shrewd tactics at work on behalf of various parties in these seemingly intertwined deals:

De Gea’s focus may flick on when the serious stuff starts, and with the 2016 European Championship looming, it’d be misguided for him to kick up a fuss.

Although he may be a little rusty, there have been no suggestions the Red Devils' Player of the Year has acted anything but professionally throughout this drawn-out saga.

But with less than one year remaining on his contract and his mind clearly elsewhere at this juncture, you just wonder whether United will be tempted to cash in after all.