David de Gea is once again linked with Real Madrid but whats does this mean for Aston Villa’s hopes of signing Sam Johnstone from Manchester United?
Manchester United are determined not to lose David de Gea this summer, with Spanish publication Sport reporting the goalkeeper remains Real Madrid’s prime transfer target.
Madrid president Florentino Perez has been pursuing De Gea for around four years, but each time the Red Devils have managed to fend off the interest.
Now United are hoping that slapping a £115m price-tag, a fee Los Blancos are unwilling to pay, on the Spain international will see the 27-year-old remains at Old Trafford and sign a new contract – which currently expires in 2019.
How does this affect Aston Villa?
The Villans will be keeping a close eye on developments because if De Gea were to leave, it could hinder their own hopes of signing fellow stopper Sam Johnstone.
Johnstone is currently on loan at Villa Park from Man United, but manager Steve Bruce has reiterated that he wants to make the deal permanent.
“We hope he will be our keeper for the next five years,” Bruce told the Birmingham Mail. “That would delight me. He is a big tick as far as we are concerned.
“But whether we can do a deal, we will have to wait until the end of the season.”
Yet would Jose Mourinho allow Johnstone to depart permanently if De Gea were to go, leaving him with just Sergio Romero and youngster Joel Pereira as options between the sticks? Although current Shrewsbury Town loanee Dean Henderson is another candidate.
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