David De Gea has £32.6m price tag put on him by Manchester United amid tussle with Real Madrid
Fee would match world record for goalkeeper
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Louise Thomas
Editor
Manchester United have insisted they want £32.6m for David De Gea as their summer wrangling with Real Madrid continues.
The Independent understands Manchester United are playing hardball in negotiations with the Spanish side as they look to bring Sergio Ramos the other way.
Real Madrid are beginning to accept that they may lose Ramos after an improved bid of £35.4m for the defender. That represents a marginal increase from the £32m offer that was rejected earlier in the week and seems unlikely to trigger a breakthrough for United – but it may form the basis for talks in which Old Trafford stopper De Gea's likely move to Madrid is part of the picture.
Reports elsewhere suggest that if Manchester United do not see their £32.6m valuation of De Gea met - a fee that would match that Juventus paid for Gianluigi Buffon - they would be prepared to keep the 24-year-old and let him leave for free when his contract expires next summer.
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