Man United to pull plug on David De Gea transfer - unless Sergio Ramos moves in opposite direction

De Gea wants to join Real Madrid in a £25m deal but United are ready to play hardball and insists Spanish defender Ramos moves to Old Trafford

Manchester United will scupper David De Gea’s Real Madrid move unless Sergio Ramos comes the other way.

United chiefs are set for talks with Madrid this week but have already warned Real to forget about signing keeper De Gea unless World Cup-winning defender Ramos is part of the deal.

De Gea, who has one year left on his United contract, wants to join Real this summer, with the Spanish club willing to pay up to £25million for him.

But United are ready to play hardball by insisting Ramos comes in the opposite direction, although the fee wanted by Real could hold up any deal.

Although Ramos has a £145m buy-out clause in his current deal, Real will not hold United to that figure, but would want around £50m for the 29-year-old.

United value the Spain star significantly lower than that, around the £30m mark, with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward set for talks with Real president Florentino Perez this week.

Woodward will be looking to broker a compromise with Real over the fee for Ramos, who is seeking an improved new contract offer from the club he has served for the past decade.

Ramos, out of contract in two years, wants a pay rise to bring him in line with the world’s best-paid defenders, but Real have so far failed to offer him an improved deal.

That has alerted United to his potential availability as part of any deal involving De Gea, with Woodward determined to maximize the situation to the full advantage of the Reds.  

United boss Louis van Gaal is looking to strengthen his defence this summer with a center-back of stature and Ramos, with 128 caps for Spain, fits the bill.

De Gea wants to join Real Madrid in a £25m deal but United are ready to play hardball and insists Spanish defender Ramos moves to Old Trafford