Updated at 11.32pm
IT’S BEING REPORTED that the David De Gea deal to Real Madrid is now off with the necessary documents not arriving on time, with deals involving both the Spanish international and Keylor Navas now looking increasingly unlikely.
As the transfer deadline closes in, a fee of up to €40million had been mooted, although reports claim that would include the value of Navas.
However, Spanish journalist Guillem Balague tonight reported that the documents had not arrived on time and indicated the deal was in jeopardy as a result.
De Gea’s potential return to Madrid, where he previously played for city rivals Atletico, would have undoubtedly dominated the headlines, but there has been plenty of movement elsewhere in La Liga.
Raul Garcia has completed his move from Atleti to Athletic Bilbao after undergoing a medical, with the clubs having agreed a deal on Sunday.
The experienced midfielder signs a four-year contract at San Mames.
Adrian Lopez has swapped Porto for Villarreal in a season-long loan deal following a difficult debut campaign in Portugal, while Levante midfielder Pape Diop heads to Espanyol on a three-year contract.
Malaga rubber-stamped the return of veteran frontman Roque Santa Cruz from Cruz Azul, Izet Haijrovic is loaned from Werder Bremen to Eibar, and Udinese’s Neuton joins Granada in a temporary move.
Elsewhere, Javi Guerra leaves Cardiff City to join Rayo Vallecano, who have also signed ex-Spain winger Pablo Hernandez.
Hernandez’s former Swansea City team-mate Michu is thought to be a target for a number of Liga clubs, including Rayo, and posted a cryptic message on Twitter on Monday.
“In the end, it comes down to feeling loved,” he tweeted, possibly in reference to being frozen out by the Welsh club since his return from a loan spell at Napoli last term.
Meanwhile, Monaco striker Anthony Martial has left France’s training camp at Clairefontaine to travel to Manchester United, where he is expected to agree a deal to sign for the Premier League club.
A statement from the French Football Federation read: “Anthony Martial arrived on Monday at 11:00 at the gathering of the France team at Clairefontaine. He requested permission from Didier Deschamps to travel to England to sign a contract with Manchester United.”
