Man Utd ‘working on £100m’ Gareth Bale and David De Gea swap deal

Manchester United have begun work on a £100m deal that will see them land Real Madrid star Gareth Bale, with David De Gea heading in the opposite direction, according to the Sunday People.

The Red Devils will offer £50m cash plus De Gea to the European champions in the hope of bringing former Tottenham winger Bale to the club, the report suggests.

Real have been credited with a long-standing interest in making Madrid-born De Gea their new no.1 once veteran keeper Iker Casillas moves aside. With the former Atletico star now into the final 18 months of his contract and yet to agree a new deal, United are considering cashing in.

Chief executive Ed Woodward has slapped a £50m asking price on De Gea, aged 24, who arrived at Old Trafford in 2011 for £17.8m.

He is prepared to offer De Gea and a £50m fee to Real for Bale.

De Gea could yet agree a new contract if United qualify for next season’s Champions League. But by the end of the current campaign he will have just 12 months to run on his current deal and United will be in a hurry to sell if he still hasn’t put pen to paper.

They have a ready-made replacement in their ranks having recently signed former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, aged 32, on a free transfer.

Valdes, who completed the final stages of his recovery from a serious knee injury with United at their Carrington training base, has signed an 18-month contract with Louis van Gaal’s side.