MANCHESTER UNITED may be prepared to sacrifice David De Gea in order to help fund their summer transfer spree, according to reports.
The Red Devils are ready to spend big once again when the window reopens at the end of the season.
Jadon Sancho continues to be linked with a move back to Manchester after leaving City for Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
As revealed by SunSport, United are also plotting a mega transfer to sign both Jack Grealish and James Maddison as they continue to impress at Aston Villa and Leicester City respectively.
And Old Trafford legend Ryan Giggs believes his former side should go all out to sign the two English playmakers.
But in order to make all the signings they want, United will need to raise some cash – and selling De Gea could be the answer.
According to Goal, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be willing to let the Spaniard go.
That is despite the fact the goalkeeper signed a new contract in September to commit his future to the Red Devils until 2023.
De Gea – who signed from Atletico Madrid for 17.8million in 2011 – developed into one of the world’s best goalkeepers during his time at United after a difficult start.
That led to links with big-money moves away with Real Madrid the most likely destination and as he headed into the final year of his deal, his club handed him a fresh contract worth 375,000 per week to tie his down.
But his performances have dipped over the last 12 months, with a number of high-profile errors such as the blunder at Watford in December.
Add into the mix the fact that Sergio Romero is arguably the best understudy goalkeeper in the Premier League and Dean Henderson looks to be a ready-made replacement as he excels on loan at Sheffield United and United may be able to cope without the Spain international.
Where De Gea would go, though, remains unclear.
Real Madrid seem happy with Thibaut Courtois and a move within England is off the cards.
That would leave Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus as the two main clubs who could give him the chance to win silverware domestically and the Champions League as well as match his current monster wages.
The overhaul at Old Trafford continued last summer with Romelu Lukaku, Matteo Darmian, Antonio Valencia, Ander Herrera all leaving permanently and Chris Smalling and Alexis Sanchez out on loan.
Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young also headed out of the exit door in January, the former on a temporary basis.
But Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Daniel James and Bruno Fernandes have all come in – as well as Odion Ighalo as a short-term fix – for more than 200m combined.
Paul Pogba’s future remains uncertain and it is thought if he is sold this summer – with United wanting 150m – then De Gea could stay instead.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward told investors on Tuesday he plans to continue with the same recruitment strategy going forward as the club shakes up the first-team squad to ensure it challenges for the Premier League and then then Champions League again.
