Manchester United and Chelsea battling to sign David De Gea, reveals Atletico Madrid chief

David De Gea, Atletico de Madrid (Getty Images)

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Atletico Madrid have revealed that both Manchester United and Chelsea have made offers for their goalkeeper David De Gea but insist that no deal has been struck with any club yet.

The 20-year-old custodian has established himself as Atletico’s first choice goalkeeper and has been the subject of transfer speculation for a number of months, with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly keen to sign him in the summer to replace veteran Edwin van der Sar, who will retire at the end of the season.

On Tuesday Spanish radio station Onda Cero reported that agent Jorge Mendes has met officials from United and struck a €20 million (£17.8m) transfer deal, but Atletico chief Gil Marin moved quickly to squash suggestions that De Gea is definitely leaving in the summer.

“Jorge Mendes is in England, but not to negotiate a deal for De Gea,” Gil Marin told Onda Cero. ”Mendes does not have the authority to act on behalf of De Gea.

“At the end of the season we will see if he wants to leave. If he wants to go, we’ll refer to his €25m £22.25m buy-out clause. Until then we count on him to remain with us.”

However, Gil Marin did admit that they have received offers from England and told radio station Cadena SER: “We’ve received offers from both United and Chelsea for De Gea. He also has an offer from us to renew his deal. We’d like him to stay here, but David’s future is entirely in his own hands.”

The young Spaniard’s father Jose De Gea also denied that his son has signed any agreement with any club and is quoted by Spanish sports daily Marca as saying: “It is completely untrue that my son has signed for Manchester United.”

De Gea’s current contract with Atletico runs until June 2013.