Manchester United demands a world record fee for De Gea

Now Van Gaal will turn his attention to David de Gea, and may even axe him for the season opener.

The United boss had insisted he wanted his keeper to see out the last year of his contract, despite the Spaniard's desire to return home to Madrid with Real.

De Gea though, has looked a shadow of himself in pre-season, and that has left his Dutch manager calculating whether it is time to cut his losses, and sell the keeper to generate funds for a replacement.

United had demanded a world record fee (the current highest for a keeper is £32.6m) for their number one, even though he has just a year left on his deal, and the Bernabeu giants refused point-blank to entertain such a fee.

Now though, the Old Trafford hierarchy are ready to consider a compromise figure, with Real Madrid encouraged to believe they would get their man for closer to the £20m mark.

Van Gaal was disappointed with the performance of his Spanish international in the final pre-season game (ironically, against PSG), when he was well below his best.

De Gea has also suddenly started to struggle with injury niggles and there is a growing feeling at United they would be better getting a fee for him, rather than see him sit out his final year on the bench.

Real Madrid are desperate to sign him after letting their number one for the past 15 years, Iker Casillas, leave for Porto.

It has now become a game of poker as the transfer window ticks down into its final four weeks.

Van Gaal will seriously consider dropping De Gea against Tottenham but must consider the facts that new signing and likely alternative Sergio Romero hasn't played a match of any kind since the Copa America final on July 4.

It seems likely Argentina international Romero will be given a chance soon though.

The Old Trafford club are also waiting to land Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen but they are loathe to complete that transfer for fear of weakening their bargaining position by signalling to Real Madrid that they have signed De Gea's replacement.