David De Gea Attracts Real Madrid

                                                 

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is a target for La Liga giants Real Madrid, according to The Mirror.The Spaniard performed superbly in the recent Champions League first leg match between the two sides at the Bernabeu and it is thought the current La Liga champions are looking to the future without current number one Iker Casillas.Casillas, the shot-stopper of the Spanish national team, has been long regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in world football with an astounding 143 international caps to his name despite being only 31.However, he has suffered with injury this season and the Red Devils’ Spaniard would be seen as a good understudy, as well as a future successor, the newspaper claims.

Patchy

De Gea has been capped by Spain up to under-23 level, but is highly regarded within the Spanish set-up and Vicente Del Bosque has said he will call the 22-year-old up to the national team, according to the report.The current Premier League leaders paid Atletico Madrid £17million to prise De Gea from his homeland back in July 2011, a British record fee for a goalkeeper as they themselves sought a successor to Edwin van der Sar.However, despite his heroics in Madrid last Wednesday, his form has been patchy since his arrival at Old Trafford and manager Sir Alex Ferguson has had to defend the player from criticism over a number of high profile errors.Most recently Gary Neville, former devoted servant to United and now pundit on Sky television, criticised the goalkeeper for his part in conceding an injury time equaliser to Tottenham Hotspur back in January.

Replacement

Despite his setbacks, Real Madrid are eager to strike a deal and such is their eagerness, they will try to sign the under-21 captain regardless of whether manager Jose Mourinho will leave the club, according to the newspaper.United themselves were linked with a move for Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland before his transfer to Stoke City and they continue to be linked with the Potters’ current number one Asmir Begovic, the newspaper claims.Therefore there is a suggestion Ferguson will look to the Bosnian as a replacement for De Gea, if the latter’s move back to his homeland does go through.