Real Madrid preparing Plan B as Louis van Gaal puts foot down on David de Gea

LVG is digging his well-heeled heels in.

Only the most wildly optimistic of Manchester United fans will believe David de Gea will be in goal for them at the start of next season. Real Madrid are waving the white flag [of farewell, not derision] at Iker Casillas this summer and their main target is de Gea. They have already put out an early feeler and a bid as little as €15m was suggested by their spin doctors. United are holding out for at least €40m and while the final figure would most likely fall between both stools, one man would be just as happy if the deal went south As reported by Marca today, United boss Louis van Gaal will not let the Spanish stopper go for anything less than a world record fee for a No.1. United, they say, will hang onto de Gea until the close of the European transfer window. If Real do not stump up, they will keep their player of the season [2014 and 2015]. Real are preparing a back-up plan. It revolves around Bayer Leverkusen's 23-year-old goalkeeper Bernd Leno.