Manchester United goalkeeper De Gea remains top of Real Madrid’s agenda with Los Blancos set to sign a new goalkeeper at the end of the season.
The La Liga giants were heavily tipped to land Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa Arrizabalaga during the January transfer window but a move to the Bernabeu failed to materialise.
As a result, United shotstopper De Gea is back on their agenda with the Spaniard’s contract at Old Trafford expiring in the summer of 2019.
And Spanish outlet Don Balon claims Barcelona talisman Messi expects De Gea to turn his back on United and finally make the move to La Liga.
A deal looked done back in the summer of 2015.
Everything between United and Real was agreed with Keylor Navas set to move to Manchester as part of the arrangement.
However, a furious Red Devils blocked De Gea’s move by failing to file the paperwork in time – in an act that has led to strained negotiations between the two clubs ever since.
Despite that, though, Don Balon say Barcelona’s Messi expects a move to go through at the end of the season.
De Gea has supposedly agreed to join Real with all that remains is for United to give the deal the green light.
However, the Red Devils are unlikely to give him up without a fight.
De Gea is the first name on Jose Mourinho’s team sheet having established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in world football over the last few years.
Given his importance, United are likely to hold out for a huge fee.
And should Real opt to bide their time and wait, it would not be unfeasible for the Red Devils to retain their No1 until the end of his contract.
