David de Gea is very close to becoming a new Real Madrid player. 'Los Blancos' are set to hand over a fixed fee of €25 million to Manchester United plus a further €5 million in easily achievable performance-related add-ons, bringing the total to €30 million, the cost of securing the most expensive goalkeeper in Real's history.

At 24, and after four seasons at Manchester United, De Gea feels that he has come to the end of an era at Old Trafford and that it is time for a change of scene, especially when Real Madrid come knocking.

The only thing currently standing between the player and his soon-to-be new club is a final phone call to close the deal, the principles of which have already been thrashed out. The goalkeeper, whose contract with United finishes next season, has spent months stalling Man U's attempts to extend his commitment, with offers coming in which were, financially-speaking, very difficult to turn down.

Real Madrid will thus complete one of their summer signings and Rafa Benítez will have one of the best goalkeepers in Europe on side. Of course, it still remains to be seen what will happen with Iker Casillas and Keylor Navas, with the Real Madrid goal looking somewhat overcrowded, particularly in light of the difficulties that arose between Casillas and Diego López in Carlo Ancelotti's first year in the dugout.