Real Madrid begin bid for David de Gea

Real Madrid will launch their pursuit of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea next week.

Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane wanted the club to keep the issue on the back-burner as his own goalkeeper Keylor Navas prepares for the Champions League final against Juventus on Saturday evening.

The French coach has been determined to avoid any distractions as Madrid seek to become the first side to retain the Champions League trophy.

The Spanish club are yet to make a formal bid for De Gea but the player has been made aware that an offer will be forthcoming this summer.

De Gea’s Manchester United contract expires in 2019 and the Old Trafford club also have the option to extend that deal by a further year so are in a very strong position to resist any bid.

Manchester City’s £35m purchase of Benfica goalkeeper Ederson has also had the effect of inflating the market, and Madrid now fear that United may demand in excess of £70million for De Gea.

Madrid are under pressure to increase the number of Spain internationals in their starting team and the United No 1 is seen as an ideal long-term solution.

United remain confident that the Spanish goalkeeper will stay at Old Trafford and as things stand, the player does not intend to force a move.

He has, however, been frustrated by United’s level of performance in the Premier League and was also disappointed to miss out on a starting place in the Europa League semi-final and final.

He told friends last August that he expected united to challenge for the Premier League title following the signings of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic and hoped for more in Jose Mourinho’s first season at the club.