Real Madrid to sign River Plate goalkeeper Angusto Batalla on loan

Real Madrid's pursuit of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has seemingly relented after River Plate confirmed that Angusto Batalla will move to the 10-time European champions during the summer transfer window. Batalla will move to the Bernabeu on loan for the 2015/16 season before joining on a permanent deal the following summer for a "high price" according to president Rodolfo D'Onofrio.

News of the agreement comes after Real have been heavily linked with a move for de Gea, who is yet to agree a contract extension to his current deal at United which expires in the summer of 2016, and Spanish giants' interest could now ease up.

"The contract is still not signed," River Plate president Rodolfo D'Onofrio said. "But in June Augusto Batalla will go to Real Madrid for a year, with the option to buy for a high price at the end of that year."

The future of Iker Casillas has reportedly hinged on the timing of de Gea's departure from United, with the Spain captain having two years still to run on his current deal at Real.

The 33-year-old's dramatic loss of form which was exposed both at the World Cup as Spain exited at the group phase and in Real's recent 4-3 Champions League defeat to Schalke has sparked suggestions he could leave the club before the expiration of his contract.

Meanwhile, de Gea's performances this season have single-handedly kept United's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive, with a series of man-of-the-match displays illuminating a campaign of struggle for Louis van Gaal.

United are understood to have slapped a £50m price tag on de Gea in an attempt to warn off Real's interest in the player but that is unlikely to deter a club who have broken the world transfer record on five separate occasions.