Despite an inconsistent campaign, Manchester United have achieved their primary objective for the season having qualified for the Champions League, securing their place in the top four last weekend after Liverpool failed to beat Crystal Palace.

One man that has been instrumental to their success again this term is their Spanish star David de Gea who continues to show why he is considered one of the world’s best goalkeepers with a number of heroic displays for the Red Devils.

A string of outstanding, eye catching saves have arguably proved decisive for the club in their quest for a top-four place, and rightly earned him a spot in the PFA Team of the Year as well as nomination for the main award.

Unfortunately for United it appears his performances have come at a cost with the club expected to lose their current number one to Real Madrid this summer, and it’s widely expected that this weekend’s trip to Hull could be his last game in England.

The former Atletico man looks set to return to Madrid as the Spanish giants set about bringing in a long term replacement for Iker Casillas, and despite United’s best efforts it’s hard to see them keeping hold of him in the transfer window.

And while the fans are looking for reassurances that they aren’t about to lose another of their star players to arguably the world’s biggest club, comments from manager Louis van Gaal this week have only furthered speculation of a summer exit, with all signs pointing towards De Gea being sold prior to next season.

When questioned about a move to Real Madrid, the Dutchman spoke like a man who is well aware that his goalkeeper is likely to move and his quotes feel as though he is resigned to this fact.

Van Gaal spoke of the obvious Spanish link in place, with De Gea having the chance to return to his homeland and the City where he made a name for himself at Real’s arch rivals Atletico Madrid.

The chance to move back home with his family, and maybe most importantly his girlfriend will surely play a pivotal role in his decision, and the outcome looks pretty inevitable. Can you really blame him?

Van Gaal also described the difficulty De Gea would have deciding between two great clubs, hardly a mark of someone who sounds confident that United can keep hold of him.

The 24-year-old’s failure to sign a new contract at Old Trafford has the warning signs ringing loud and clear, and although he may well undecided, it’s surely just a matter of time before he calls it a day at United.

And having said the club have already lined up a list of potential replacements to cater for his loss, Van Gaal knows it too.

The fact he has plans in place shows how unlikely it is that De Gea remains at the club past this summer, and wants to be able to announce a replacement as soon as possible to soften the blow.

Perhaps he knew as early as January that he was set to lose one of his key players, and thus made a point of signing Victor Valdes as a potential successor to the young Spaniard. It certainly makes sense.

Despite his recent injury problems, Valdes surely wouldn’t have signed if he thought he was to be a long term number two and wasn’t guaranteed first-team football at some point.

And would the club really have brought him in were they confident of tying down De Gea to a new long-term contract? Again it’s unlikely.

It will be a huge loss to both United and the Premier League if and when the goalkeeper makes the switch to the Bernabeau. But after his displays over recent seasons and his key role in ensuring the Reds will be playing in Europe once again, nobody will begrudge him a move back to Spain, and with the opportunity to play for Real Madrid nobody would blame him for doing just that.

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