Guillem Balague: 'Real Madrid will sign David de Gea this month'

Manchester United will sell goalkeeper David de Gea to Real Madrid this month, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and has been widely tipped to join Madrid this summer.

United boss Louis van Gaal has said that De Gea is not in the right frame of mind to play in the opening weeks of the season, and Balague does not expect him to play for the Red Devils again.

He told Sky Sports News: "Jorge Mendes, the agent of De Gea, has told him not to worry and the money will come from Real Madrid, but he has to understand that Manchester United are letting go of a guy who has been their best player for two years now and somebody who would help them with a challenge for the title this year.

"It's normal that everything will go to the wire, to the last few hours and days of the transfer window but I think, the way it looks, De Gea will go to Real Madrid."

De Gea joined United from Atletico Madrid in 2011.