Manchester United have no intention of selling David de Gea, despite Real Madrid’s interest, because the goalkeeper is not seeking a move and the stance at Old Trafford is no player will leave unless the club decide so.
Real are hoping to sign De Gea after coming close to securing him in summer 2015. His move broke down on transfer deadline day because of missing paperwork, with the clubs disagreeing over who was to blame. De Gea stayed at Old Trafford and agreed a new four-year deal in September that year.
United are conscious De Gea was vulnerable to a transfer at the time when he had only one season left on his contract. Now he has two seasons remaining on his deal, with an option held by the club for a further 12 months.
United believe De Gea is settled at Old Trafford, despite Real’s obvious attraction as Spain’s most successful club and being situated in the No1’s home town. There is also an appreciation De Gea is not actively seeking the transfer and the club’s position is they will not allow the sale of any player they wish to keep.
A bargaining chip is United being crowned the Europa League champions, which places them in the Champions League group stage for the first time since they won the title under Sir Alex Ferguson in May 2013. This will also be used in any negotiations with Antoine Griezmann of Atlético Madrid. The forward is wanted by José Mourinho to play behind Everton’s Romelu Lukaku, who is another target.
United believe Griezmann’s €100m release clause makes a deal simpler than a regulation transfer for an elite player. The club are aware of competition but they are encouraged by the Frenchman recently rating his chances of moving to Old Trafford as “six out of 10”.
It is also thought United are not seeking to sell Wayne Rooney. Mourinho is content for the club’s record goalscorer to stay. However, if the 31-year-old wants to leave that would change the dynamic. Rooney said recently he has decided on his future and is intent on playing regularly again after losing his starting berth under Mourinho.
The captain has a year left on his contract and the club again hold a clause for an extra season. As a player who earns a basic £250,000 a week Rooney would find it hard to match those terms elsewhere. It is the reason why he did not depart in the winter window. He has said United and Everton are the only domestic clubs for which he would play. This may leave the option open for a return to his boyhood club.
United do not expect to sign more than three or four players in the summer window and are prepared for some difficult negotiations with selling clubs because of the money flowing into Premier League clubs under the new broadcast deal.