Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their efforts to make Ajax goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen their second signing of the summer, according to reports.
With David De Gea’s departure from Old Trafford on the verge, the Red Devils seem desperate to bring in a replacement and a deal for 26-year-old Netherlands international could be tied up by the end of this week.
Earlier this month, United manager Louis van Gaal asked club’s goalkeeping coach and his close associate Frans Hoek to prepare a shortlist of candidates to replace De Gea after the Spain international turned down a new £200,000-a-week deal to pursue his dream move to Real Madrid.
And Hoek, who has worked with Van Gaal at Ajax, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Netherlands in past, identified Cillessen as his top target.
Van Gaal himself is a big admirer of Cillessen, having awarded him his first senior international cap two years back and made him his no.1 in last summer’s World Cup in Brazil ahead of Newcastle United’s Tim Krul.
The Dutch shot-stopper enjoyed an impressive last season at Amsterdam Arena, having made 119 saves at an average of 3.7 per game. His signing would cost around £20m to the Old Trafford club.
Real, meanwhile, are reportedly preparing to launch an initial bid of £20m for De Gea, whose had joined United from Atlético Madrid for £18.3m in 2011 and has one year remaining on his contract at Old Trafford.
The Spaniard has been valuated at £30million by the Red Devils.
Real want to bring De Gea to Bernabeu as a replacement of Iker Casillas, who is reportedly linked with a move to Inter Milan.
