Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal knows he could still lose star goalkeeper David de Gea to Real Madrid. He also knows he may have to bide his time before restocking a defence in need of new blood, after proposed target Aleksandar Dragovic reportedly began negotiations with Inter Milan.

Van Gaal is also switching targets in his proposed bid to shore up the base of midfield, following yet another injury for long-term target Kevin Strootman.

Starting with De Gea, Van Gaal has confirmed United remain anxious for the gifted 24-year-old stopper to agree a new contract. But the Dutchman acknowledged a move to Real Madrid remains a possibility, per Manchester Evening News reporter Stuart Mathieson: “Everything is possible in the world of football. We want to keep him.”

De Gea only has 18 months left on his current contract. There have been reports Los Blancos will wait 12 months before offering De Gea a free transfer next January, according to Mark Ogden of The Telegraph.

United’s counter to that idea will be to offer De Gea £140,000 per week, according to Daily Mirror writer David McDonnell. That contract would certainly seem worth it considering De Gea‘s emergence as a match-winner for an inconsistent United side this season.

However, there are one or two dissenting voices who believe United may be best served cashing in. They include Manchester Evening News writer James Robson.

He believes letting De Gea get to his final year at Old Trafford still without a long-term deal in place would make little business sense. Robson also suggested United could use De Gea as a makeweight to possibly land Los Merengues‘ forward Gareth Bale.

The Red Devils have reportedly set aside €150 million to try to tempt Real into selling Bale, per AS reporter Manu Sainz (h/t Daily Star writer Alex Harris). Robson thinks United would be wiser using De Gea to significantly reduce Bale’s fee.

That’s not an unreasonable argument. However, sections of the club’s support may baulk at the idea of selling a key part of the team’s spine for yet another attacker.

Quality goalkeepers the right side of 30 are tough to come by. They are certainly worth keeping around when you find one.

United are already more than well-stocked in attack. Van Gaal‘s squad boasts forward-thinking talent the calibre of Robin van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Radamel Falcao, Angel Di Maria and Juan Mata.

What the current team really needs is to be underpinned with a strong foundation that runs from back to front. De Gea can be a crucial part of that structure. So can a more physical holding midfielder.

That’s the cue for United’s interest in AS Roma enforcer Radja Nainggolan. Van Gaal is reportedly considering a bid for the fast-rising Belgian star, per French publication Le10Sport (h/t IBTimes.co.uk’s Naveen Ullal).

United are apparently prepared to pay €40 million for a player still part owned by both Roma and Cagliari. That’s certainly a hefty investment. However, Van Gaal‘s midfield needs balance and he already looks set to miss out on one prime target.

Strootman would be top of Van Gaal‘s list of potential midfield recruits. But the tough-tackling, smart passer just can’t stay fit.

The Netherlands international has suffered a setback in his bid to rebound from a serious knee injury, per ASRoma.it (h/t Manchester Evening News reporter Simon Bajkowski). Strootman is now out for at least four weeks.

Van Gaal has his own injury woes in central midfield, concerning versatile veteran Michael Carrick, per the club’s official Twitter feed:

Meanwhile, fellow experienced battler in the middle Darren Fletcher is inching closer to a move to West Ham United, according to BBC Sport. These factors could accelerate any move Nainggolan.

United need help in midfield, but the squad also needs a few talented bodies a little further back. Van Gaal needs quality centre-backs to make his 3-5-2 formation work.

But the Dutchman may have to count out Aleksandar Dragovic being one of them. The Austria international is still on United’s radar, but he is currently negotiating with Serie A side Inter Milan, per Daily Star reporter Alex Harris.

United had been considering moving for 23-year-old Dragovic, provided Van Gaal believes he could handle the Premier League pace, per Manchester Evening News writer David Lynch. Now it seems as though the decision will be taken out of the United chief’s hands.

Van Gaal may be stressing he doesn’t intend to sign new faces during the final days of the winter window, per ManUtd.com writer Mark Froggatt. But injuries and defections in midfield could change his mind.

If nothing else, the Old Trafford hierarchy may begin negotiating some summer deals now, while keeping a very close eye on De Gea‘s contract situation and Madrid’s intentions.

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