Real Madrid Transfer News: David De Gea and William Carvalho Bids Expected

Real Madrid have reportedly not given up on signing Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea before the end of the current transfer window.

According to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, Los Blancos are still holding out hope of adding the Spaniard to their ranks this summer, and they are preparing to table a bid:

Previous reports have suggested United will only sell De Gea for £35 million, a fee Real are unlikely to meet as the 24-year-old has only a year left on his contract at Old Trafford, per MailOnline's Mike Keegan.

However, the La Liga giants are still seemingly eager to snap him up, which is hardly a surprise given he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and Real's current No. 1 is the inferior Keylor Navas, per Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe:

The tide seems to be turning in Real's direction over De Gea after a drawn-out summer of speculation and frustration.

The Spain international is to be omitted from Louis van Gaal's United squad for the second week in succession as they travel to Aston Villa on Friday in the Premier League, per Daniel Taylor in the Guardian.

New arrival Sergio Romero will take his place between the posts once again, and the perception is increasing that the goalkeeping situation at United is bordering on shambolic, per the Telegraph's Paul Hayward:

Such disruption can only play into the Bernabeu club's hands in their pursuit of De Gea. The more unsettled he becomes at United, the more likely the Manchester outfit will be to accept an offer from Los Blancos.

Thus, De Gea could yet be a Madrid player before the close of the transfer window, but it may go down to the wire.

As well as goalkeeping reinforcements, Real manager Rafael Benitez is also reportedly eager to bolster his midfield ranks.

According to Manu Sainz of Spanish outlet AS, Sporting's William Carvalho is the No. 1 target for Benitez, who does not have faith in current options Asier Illarramendi and Lucas Silva.

Carvalho's agent, Jorge Mendes, has reportedly been contacted by Real over a mooted €45 million (£32.2 million) deal for the 23-year-old Portugal international.

As noted by Cadena COPE (h/t talkSPORT), Carvalho has also been widely linked with Premier League clubs Chelsea and Arsenal.

But if Real are genuinely interested in the defensive midfielder and prepared to flex their financial muscles, they are surely in the driving seat to sign the talented Carvalho.