Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has said that the ongoing transfer saga involving David de Gea should have been sorted "a long time ago".
The Spanish shot-stopper has been linked with a move to Real Madrid all summer, but a switch is yet to materialise despite the Premier League season already being underway.
Schmeichel, who played 393 times during an eight-year stint at Old Trafford, urged De Gea to stay at United, but believes that the club should allow him to leave if he wants to move.
"If the player is not happy; his agent, himself and the club that want him should have sorted this a long time ago," the Dane told talkSPORT.
"It's sad that it's dragged into the season. I'd really like De Gea to stay. Two years running he's been player of the year.
"You don't let players like that go but if he wants to go, let him go and let Manchester United move on."
De Gea was left out of the United squad for their 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the new season.
Barney Corkhill
