Real Madrid Transfer News: Top Rumours on Huge Deals Eyed by Rafael Benitez

Real Madrid have been handed a huge boost in their long-term pursuit of Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea with Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal now apparently open to letting the Spaniard go.

United have been playing hardball over the sale of De Gea all summer, seemingly willing to let him go for free when his contract expires next summer unless they receive Real centre-back Sergio Ramos in return.

However, according to E.F. Abascal of AS, Van Gaal has now asked the United hierarchy to allow De Gea to move to Real, as he feels the drawn-out transfer saga is taking its toll on the player and his squad.

Indeed, the Dutchman admitted after his side's recent pre-season match with Paris Saint-Germain that the 24-year-old De Gea wants the move to the Bernabeu, per Sky Sports: "We have a situation that is not favourable for David De Gea, neither for us and neither for the club that, maybe, he wants to go."

Clearly, and perhaps rightly, Van Gaal has decided it is time to move forward without De Gea—though he will be a huge loss—rather than force an unsettled player to stay on for another season.

As noted by the AS report, Van Gaal's desire to let De Gea go far from confirms the deal for Real, as United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is eager to see the former Atletico Madrid man stay at the club.

However, Van Gaal's acquiescence to Real signing De Gea could prove the turning point in Los Blancos snapping up the Spaniard this summer.

Real have already added to their goalkeeping ranks, bringing in Kiko Casilla after the recent departure of Iker Casillas and promoting Keylor Navas to No. 1.

Per Bleacher Report's Andy Brassell, De Gea is the obvious contender to succeed Casillas in the No. 1 jersey at the Bernabeu for years to come, and they should look to snap him up now rather than wait for next year.

He is a superior goalkeeper to Navas and could be the necessary addition if Real are to wrestle the La Liga title from 

De Gea's return to his home town to join Real has been a long time coming. There is still some way to go yet, but Van Gaal's concession to seeing him leave Old Trafford could finally see the goalkeeper make the switch to the Bernabeu.

Similar uncertainty continues to reign over the future of midfielder Asier Illarramendi at the Bernabeu.

A fringe player since his arrival from Real Sociedad in 2013, the Spaniard reportedly recently rejected a move to long-term suitors Liverpool as he intends to earn a first-team spot at Real under new boss Rafael Benitez, per Marca.

However, while Marca suggest Benitez has faith in Illarramendi, Fichajes.net (h/t Liam Corless in the Mirror) stated the new boss has not been impressed by the 25-year-old, while Liverpool have tabled a £10.5 million bid for him.

It seems then that Illarramendi's situation is as clear as mud, with conflicting reports doing nothing to confirm whether his future lies at the Bernabeu.