David De Gea’s potential move from Manchester United to Real Madrid has become one of the transfer sagas of the summer.
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While Louis van Gaal is digging his heels in over a move, it looks inevitable that the Spain keeper will leave Old Trafford over the coming months.
However, with the stopper keen for a departure, and his contract coming to an end next summer, United may have no choice but to sell during the current transfer window.
The Red Devils will be confident that they can get a good fee for the in-demand keeper, but might they also be able to negotiate a deal to take some of Real’s players as well?
Here are five names United ought to be very keen to acquire in exchange for De Gea.
Asier Illaramendi
The central midfielder reportedly grew unhappy with life at Real Madrid after being largely marginalised from the first team under Carlo Ancelotti.
It remains to be seen whether the deep-lying playmaker will be a key figure under Benitez, but the ex-Liverpool coach could see Illarramendi as a good bargaining chip as they look to seal De Gea. He could prove to be an ideal long-term successor to Michael Carrick.
Raphael Varane
United made an audacious £110 million bid for Raphael Varane and Gareth Bale earlier in the season, but should they forget their ambitious plans for Bale, could a swap-deal for the France international be on the cards ?
The centre-back is a classy operator and could offer United a decade of world-class service, but would Real be willing to sell?
Sergio Ramos
The centre-back has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford this summer, after contract talks stalled with Real Madrid.
The player’s father is understood to be a Red Devils fan, while Ramos has even begun to take English lessons—supposedly in preparation for a move to the Premier League.
At 29, Ramos has some of his best years ahead of him, but could still over experience and class to the United defence.
Iker Casillas
Should De Gea move to the Bernabeu, there may be no better replacement for him than Iker Casillas—the man he is ostensibly replacing in the Spanish capital.
Casillas has been linked with a move away from Madrid—and both Liverpool and AS Roma are understood to be looking at the World Cup-winning keeper.
Might United nip in ahead of these two domestic giants and secure a ready-made replacement for the man they’re letting go?
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is another Real star to have been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford.
Not only are the Red Devils understood to be keen to add to their offensive options after having called time on Radamel Falcao’s loan deal from AS Monaco, but the France striker’s agent was also pictured meeting United vice chief executive Ed Woodward in a London hotel.
The former Olympique Lyonnais man could feasibly contribute the goals required to fire United into the title picture next season.