Manchester United: Real Madrid calls on Jorge Mendes to broker cut-price deal for David de Gea

Real Madrid have urged agent Jorge Mendes to look into the transfer of David de Gea in the summer and broker a cheaper £20m ($30.9m) deal for the Spaniard, according to the Daily Mirror.

The 24-year-old has been vehemently been linked with a move out of the club, having refused to sign an extension on his current deal, which expires in 2016. United want at least £30m for arguably their best player this season, but with only a year left, Madrid are looking to cut corners and sign him on lower price.

Mendes, who is currently De Gea's agent, has been called up to initiate a transfer and complete the deal as soon as possible especially with Madrid expected to be handed a transfer ban similar to what Barcelona have been afflicted with this season.

De Gea's performance has played a massive role in United making it back into the top four, something they failed under David Moyes and ended the season on seventh spot. But Louis van Gaal's transfers in the summer, coupled with De Gea's brilliance has brought them back to where they originally belong, among the elites in Europe.

However, they are unlikely to reap the rewards much longer, with Madrid making him their top target for the summer to replace Iker Casillas, who has received a lot of flak from fans this season.

United are looking to use the Spaniard as a makeshift for Gareth Bale, who has been linked with a £100m move to Old Trafford, after a disappointing season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Red Devils have already completed the signing of Memphis Depay and are looking to add more players to their armoury before the season begins so as to help bed them into the system. They have been linked with a move for Petr Cech as a possible replacement for the Spaniard, with Arsenal also interested in his services.