Manchester United keeper David de Gea 'calm' about rumours linking him with Real Madrid

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has claimed he is "calm" about the rumours linking him with a summer move to Real Madrid and is ready to start pre-season training with his current club.

The Spain international has been tipped with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu in recent months as Rafael Benitez's side have earmarked his signing as a top priority for the current transfer window in order to make him the long-term replacement of Iker Casillas, who is likely to leave the club this summer.

Even though De Gea has arguably been United's best player during the last two campaigns, Los Blancos were expected to take advantage of the fact that his contract at Old Trafford expires in summer 2016 to secure his services now for a cut-price deal.

However, Spanish newspaper AS reports that both United manager Louis van Gaal and club executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward are reluctant to budge due to a matter of pride.

The Spanish publication claims that firstly United told Los Blancos to pay in excess of €46m (£32.7m, $50.9m) for the Spaniard in order to make him the most expensive goalkeeper of all time, beating the £32.6m fee that led to Gianluigi Buffon's move from Parma to Juventus in 2001.

And then AS claimed earlier in July that United agreed to reduce their original asking price for the goalkeeper to €35m but with the condition that Real Madrid also sanction the departure of Sergio Ramos to Old Trafford.

De Gea, who returned to his Madrid home for a break, is back in Manchester for the start of pre-season training, which begins on 6 July, as Van Gaal prepares his side for the new campaign.

And caught by a reporter from Spanish TV Cuatro at his Madrid home just before making the trip to the UK, the player was quite coy about his future. He said: "I am going to Manchester. I have to do the pre-season."

And asked whether he is eager and nervous about his move to Real Madrid, he responded: "No, I am calm."