Real Madrid Transfer News: David De Gea Manchester United Buy-out Clause Emerges

David De Gea may have signed a new contract with Manchester United, but that does not mean the brilliant young goalkeeper is entirely out of Real Madrid's grasp just yet.

According to the Sun on Sunday, (h/t Mirror writer Liam Corless), De Gea's new deal contains a "£30 million buy-out clause."

If it's true De Gea has demanded the release fee, he could be keeping the door ajar for an eventual return to the Spanish capital. Los Blancos were linked with the gifted 24-year-old stopper all summer, only for the deal to collapse in the late hours of the transfer window, per BBC Sport's Simon Stone.

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The failure to get the deal done in time prompted a blame game between Madrid and Old Trafford. Los Merengues president Florentino Perez even recently produced what he claimed was proof United's negligence had prevented the transfer being completed, during Spanish radio show Partido de las 12 (h/t the Mirror's Ed Malyon).

Lost in all the back and forth, it's almost easy to forget just how good De Gea has been for United in recent seasons. He offered a reminder of his quality during United's 3-1 win over arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday.

One impressed onlooker was former Red Devils full-back, now Sky Sports analyst, Gary Neville. Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the pundit explained how De Gea can be vital in both saving and earning United points this season (h/t SkySports.com): "Graeme Souness put a number on it before the game—I think he said 15 points. Whether it'll that be much, we do not know, but what I would say is that he will definitely win them matches."

That's what Los Blancos were hoping to buy in the summer. Madrid need a marquee 'keeper following the protracted decline and sale of former No. 1 Iker Casillas.

Yet despite missing out on De Gea, new Real boss Rafa Benitez remains upbeat about his current options. In particular, he recently had words of praise for current stopper of choice Keylor Navas, per another report from Malyon: "My confidence in him is complete and he knows it. I hope that he plays really well and that he doesn't have to do much. "

Regardless of Benitez's public proclamations that he trusts Navas, suggestions of a release clause are only going to continue chatter about Madrid making another move for United star De Gea next summer.