Report: Real Madrid reaches agreement with wantaway De Gea

David De Gea has told Manchester United to negotiate a transfer to Real Madrid this summer after reaching an agreement with the capital club, according to Marca's Carlos Carpio.

Unlike two years ago, when Madrid failed to file paperwork in time to land De Gea on deadline day, Los Blancos have reportedly moved quickly to lock down the 26-year-old goalkeeper.

Carpio estimates De Gea, who has apparently pledged to sign a five- or six-year contract, would cost Madrid between €70 million and €75 million - a figure which would make him the most expensive shot-stopper in history.

Back in 2001, Juventus paid Parma a mammoth €53 million to acquire Gianluigi Buffon.

Madrid had previously been linked with Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois and Tottenham's Hugo Lloris, but Marca's assistant director believes De Gea is not only an upgrade on Keylor Navas but a marketing goldmine as well. The fact he is the starting goalkeeper for Spain's national team is an important detail, according to Carpio.

The negotiation process could involve James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata, whom Jose Mourinho reportedly covets as an ideal partner for fellow transfer target Antoine Griezmann. The two Madrid players, who've struggled to earn consistent playing time at the Santiago Bernabeu this season, could be used as makeweights in any exchange for De Gea.

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Rumours of the Spanish goalkeeper's inevitable return to his homeland have yet to relent since an administrative error prevented a deal from being done in August 2015.

It was reported at the time that Madrid agreed to pay United £29.3 million and swap Keylor Navas for De Gea. Both clubs argued their innocence in the aftermath, although there was no appeal.

A transfer didn't materialise last summer, but it appears the saga could reach a conclusion in the coming months.