Manchester United Transfer News: De Gea To Stay? Lewandowski, Ramos, Savić In?

The summer-long saga between over the intertwined transfers of David de Gea and Sergio Ramos shows no signs of abating, although there are now suggestions that the Manchester United goalkeeper could still be at Old Trafford once the current window comes to a close.

De Gea is currently in the United States on Manchester United’s pre-season tour, with his club yet to sanction what is believed to be his desire to return to the Spanish capital. Widespread reports claim that United are insistent that De Gea, their player of the season for the last two years, will only leave if Ramos moves the opposite way. Real Madrid’s sale of goalkeeper Iker Casillas to FC Porto would appear to have accelerated the potential arrival of De Gea, and, according to Spanish sports daily AS, that is what the Spanish giants hope will be the case.

However, Casillas’ departure has also led to Ramos being named as the new captain of Real Madrid, and potentially dealing a blow to United’s hopes of securing his signature. Ramos has made it clear that he wants to leave and United have registered an offer of 45 million euros (£31.6 million). Yet, as reported by AS, Madrid have stressed that he won’t leave for less than double that figure -- an outlandish fee that simply won’t be met for a 29-year-old.

According to Marca, there is now consideration that a deal for De Gea could be postponed until next summer, when he will be out of contract. Indeed the Madrid-based publication claims that an agreement had already been made whereby, if the transfer can’t be forced through this summer, Real Madrid will pay the Spain international €5 million (£3.5 million) net to ensure he doesn’t sign a fresh deal with United.

Were the lucrative swap deal not to go through before the transfer window shuts, it would also leave Manchester United still searching for a center-back. Nicolas Otamendi is one name that continues to be mentioned as a possible alternative, although reports in Spain suggest there is another player in their thoughts. According to AS, United are set to rival Atlético Madrid for the signature of Fiorentina’s Stefan Savić. The 24-year-old Montenegro international was discarded after just a single season at Manchester City in 2011-2012, but has got his career firmly back on track in Italy. Atlético are said to have been negotiating to try and seal his signature for some time, although are reluctant to meet his 15 million euros (£10.5 million) asking price.

Having bolstered the midfielder considerably with the arrivals of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin, Manchester United’s other remaining priority is surely securing a new striker. Robin van Persie’s sale to Fenerbahce this week has left the club short of support for Wayne Rooney up front, with James Wilson still raw and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández expected to be moved on.

Edinson Cavani has been linked in recent days, and now so has Robert Lewandowski. While it is not hard to see why United would be interested in a player who made his name as a prolific all-round striker at Borussia Dortmund, any move for the Poland international would be a major surprise given that he only moved to Bayern last summer. And the 26-year-old’s agent has backed up the feeling that a transfer is highly unlikely.

“I think it would have to be a very high offer, definitely higher than £35m for Bayern to consider selling,” Cezary Kucharski told Polish TV, via Sky Sports. “Robert is one of the most valued strikers on the market who guarantees goals, guarantees assists, excitement. He has shown that over many years during his career.

“Every year he is an even better player and plays at a higher level and that is very important for other clubs because he has credibility and guarantees at least 30 goals a season. With a player of Robert's class, the truth is that not a lot of work is required because really there are only two directions in which he could go in the future, England or Spain, and only with Bayern Munich's acceptance.”