David de Gea will extend contract only if Manchester United slash release clause amount

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is reportedly only willing to sign a new contract if the club reduces the release clause they are planning to add to his contract.

According to the Mirror, Louis van Gaal and the Red Devils' hierarchy are desperate to tie down the goalkeeper to a new contract, but will have to meet the demands of the player's representatives before a deal can be agreed to.

The former Atletico Madrid stopper will have just one-year remaining on his contract at the end of the current campaign and the club are fearing that he will make himself a free agent in 2016, giving him the option of joining the club of his choosing.

Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for the goalkeeper, whom they have identified as a perfect replacement for current No 1 Iker Casillas, who, according to reports has asked for one more year at the club, before he seeks a move to the MLS in the USA.

United are desperate to avoid such a situation and are willing to make De Gea the highest paid goalkeeper in England and have reportedly offered him a basic wage of £200,000 a week and include a release clause.

However, it is believed that the Spanish goalkeeper's representatives have rejected the club's offer, as they want the club to slash the release clause from the proposed £50m to a more reasonable £25m.

These requests are being made in light of the interest from the reigning European Champions, as they do not want to jeopardise a future move to the Spanish capital.

De Gea's agent Jorge Mendes had revealed earlier in the month that he is in negotiations with the 20-time English champions about a contract extension for his client. He also dismissed reports suggesting that the Spanish international stopper had already agreed a deal with Real.