Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea has fears over the reception he may receive from Red Devils fans on the first day of the Premier League season amid his ongoing links with a move to Real Madrid.

According to Spanish outlet Marca‘s Ruben Jimenez, United fans are “baying for blood” over the ongoing De Gea transfer saga, while the mooted Sergio Ramos swap-deal that seems to be dead in the water has also riled them up.

The Old Trafford outfit kick off their 2015-16 Premier League campaign at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, and De Gea could be in for a frosty reception should he be playing.

However, he may well not turn out for a number of reasons, not least because the Spaniard may already be gone, as he could complete his transfer to the Bernabeu this week. He could also refuse to play amid fears over the reception, and Real are unlikely to want to see him appear for United ahead of his imminent move to Madrid, per Jimenez’s report.

Talks over De Gea’s transfer are expected to accelerate now that pre-season is drawing to a close.

While United boss Louis van Gaal is resigned to losing De Gea and wants him out as soon as possible, the Old Trafford hierarchy are refusing to lower their asking price of €40 million (£28 million), per Jimenez. 

While the 24-year-old De Gea has only one year left on his contract at Old Trafford, Real may yet be forced to pay such a fee if they want to snap him up.

Per Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and Real’s current crop—Keylor Navas and Kiko Casilla—are not up to scratch for a side seeking La Liga and Champions League glory in the coming term:

De Gea proved last season he is truly a world-class goalkeeper, his numerous superlative performances often responsible for handing United three points or saving them one.

It now seems clear he wants the move to Madrid—his birthplace and home to previous club Atletico—but United are not going to let him go without a fight.

Indeed, the Manchester Evening News‘ Samuel Luckhurst suggests United need to keep hold of him no matter what if they wish to challenge for the title:

But the Real transfer machine is formidable, and they usually get their man, president Florentino Perez a particular connoisseur in the art of confirming a deal late in the transfer window, per Marca‘s Olivier Martinez. 

Ronaldo—the Brazilian one—finally made his switch from Inter Milan to the Bernabeu in the dying hours of the transfer window in the summer of 2002. Meanwhile, Gareth Bale‘s deadline-day move in 2013 was also the culmination of protracted negotiations. 

The De Gea transfer could yet be a last-minute deal, as it has already been drawn out longer than many expected.

With United holding firm over their asking price, Real may have to shell out some significant cash, but it will be worth it to claim the services of one of the world’s best goalkeepers this summer. 

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