Will Manchester United let De Gea go to Real Madrid?

Real Madrid are bent on Manchester United stopper David De Gea and despite rumours that they have re-focused their energy on signing Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga, they might rejuvenate interest in January.

Every time the  transfer window opens, De Gea is linked with a move to the Spanish capital. He came within a whisker of actualising the move in 2015 but late bureaucracy blocked it.

Despite his slightly declining performance from last season with The Red Devils (the Spaniard earned 14 clean sheets from 33 matches in the Premier League, down from 15 clean sheets in 2015/2016), the 13-time Premier League title winners can’t imagine a life without their main man between the posts. But, come January, Madrid knocking on the door could be hard to resist -for both player and club.

Some reports in Spain suggested that Manchester United are only willing to release De Gea if they can get Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane in return.

The 24-year-old France international is not unfamiliar to Mourunho, both having worked together at the Bernabeu in 2011.

Varane has developed into one of the world’s most excellent centre-backs. Unfortunately, minor injuries have been hampering his performance this season (he has just appeared in six matches with Los Blancos so far).

Questions may arise whether Man United can find a suitable De Gea replacement. The Spaniard has booked eight clean sheets from 11 Premier League matches so far this season.

He has been  crucial at times, especially against Liverpool at Anfield. Some even joked that the spectacle was ‘Liverpool against De Gea’.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB4aLNZ77w0

The arrival of Varane would put the likes of Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof under pressure. Both are struggling to show their best in bid to win Mourinho’s heart. Smalling, Eric Bailly, and Phil Jones defended quite well during the clash against The Reds at Anfield, but Lindelof was blamed for United’s shocking loss to newly promoted Huddersfield.

De Gea’s current contract with the Red Devils stretches to 2019.