Reports are flying around Twitter that Manchester United have agreed to sign former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes on a two-year deal, after allowing the Spanish stopper to train with the club and continue his rehabilitation from injury.
Ian Ladyman in the Daily Mail claims the deal is done, and further reports from Spain back up that claim, but perhaps the most interesting tweet we have seen has come from Manchester United fanzine Red Issue, who have been claiming for some time that the deal would go through, and that it would mean an imminent departure for David De Gea to Real Madrid.
Valdes finally signs. As reported in RI 293 and 294, he's apparently been led to believe he will be De Gea's direct replacement.
— Red Issue (@RedIssue) January 7, 2015
Here is Ladyman's perspective on the deal:
BREAKING: Manchester United agree two-year deal with Victor Valdes http://t.co/4GsGdq7YDw pic.twitter.com/UzyIX7PyQ6
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) January 7, 2015
Obvious questions now about De Gea and his future. That topic remains off-limits for media at #MUFC.
— Ian Ladyman (@Ian_Ladyman_DM) January 7, 2015
Naturally, twitter has exploded with rumours of David De Gea joining Real Madrid in the summer, and perhaps being used in a deal to bring Gareth Bale to Old Trafford, but for the moment they remain rumours.
You have to wonder though, would Victor Valdes really spend so much effort in getting back to fitness, only to sign on as a backup to De Gea? Something doesn't seem quite right there, especially when you consider how rarely current backup Anders Lindegaard features for United, as De Gea even plays in cup matches against lower league opposition, such as Yeovil at the weekend.