Manchester United has put a record-breaking £33 million price tag on David De Gea. Real Madrid is reportedly eager to sign the keeper as a replacement for Iker Casillas but the English club is not going let go of him so easily. If the deal goes through, 24-year-old is set to topple the highest-ever transfer fee for a goalkeeper set by Gianluigi Buffon back in 2001 when he left Parma for Juventus for £32.6 million.

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According to the Manchester Evening News, anything below the record-breaking amount won't be sufficient for the Red Devils to consider letting De Gea leave Old Trafford. In fact, they are willing to let his current contract run its course for another year. This means that they could lose him for nothing once the contract expires.

United is keen on holding on to De Gea after his stellar performance last season. He was instrumental in getting the team back into European competitions by obtaining a top four finish in the Premiere League. He moved to the club back in July 2011 as a replacement for Dutch keeper Edwin van der Sar. He was signed from Spanish club Atlético Madrid for only £18.9 million. He has nearly doubled his value since moving away from Spain.

There has been no news about Real Madrid's response to the ultimatum. However, the same report has offered a clue stating that De Gea's current rental home in Chesire County has been put up for sale.  With United at risk of losing their star keeper, the Mirror reports that they have also been scouting for a possible replacement. They have reportedly contacted Petr Cech in the hopes of striking up a deal but he has opted to move to Arsenal.

Meanwhile, with all the speculations surrounding the possible arrival of De Gea at the Santiago Bernabeu, Iker Casillas and his agent are also getting busy. Bleacher Report claims that Casillas was close to finalizing a move to Arsenal this summer but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho allegedly blocked the deal by offering Cech to the Gunners. Nevertheless, even if the Arsenal deal has fallen through, Tottenham Hotspur is reportedly keen on signing the Spanish superstar. 

Tagsreal madrid, Football Transfer Rumors, David De Gea, goalkeeper, Transfer fee, Iker Casillas, Buffon, Gianluigi Buffon