Expert view: Real Madrid still ‘a long way behind’ Manchester United’s valuation of David De Gea

Real Madrid are still a long way away from matching Manchester United’s valuation of David de Gea, despite a deal for the goalkeeper supposedly imminent.

De Gea has been identified as Madrid’s priority target this summer as a replacement for long-standing stopper Iker Casillas, and Casillas’s Spanish understudy has allegedly told the Red Devils of his desire to return home.

But, while a deal was reportedly on the verge of completion, The Sun’s Manchester correspondent Martin Blackburn says the Spanish giants’ £13million valuation is still well short of the £30million United are holding out for.

“Madrid are a long way behind in their valuation of De Gea, there’s an awful lot to do there I think,” Blackburn told the Transfer Tavern.

“It will be interesting to see the reception he gets next week at Carrington [when he returns to training].”

Reports last week also suggested United boss Louis van Gaal was close to agreeing a deal for Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, and Blackburn is convinced the Red Devils will get their man before their pre-season tour of the United States.

He said: “United are keen to get it done before they fly to the United States. That’s the sort of holding midfielder they are after.

“They’ve relied on Michael Carrick for probably too long. Our sources at United confirm that they do want at least one midfielder.”

While a move for Schneiderlin appears close, Blackburn believes a deal for his French compatriot Karim Benzema doesn’t seem as likely due to the current stalling between United and Real Madrid over the De Gea transfer.

“They were quite interested in Benzema earlier in the summer but given what is going on between United and Madrid at the moment, I’m not sure how likely a deal can be struck between those two,” said the Sun journalist.