Manchester United should prepare to lose David de Gea to Real Madrid... but he isn't irreplaceable, says Edwin van der Sar

• e-mail

Edwin van der Sar thinks David de Gea will leave Manchester United for Real Madrid - but believes he can be replaced.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper and Holland international reckons the Spaniard, who has been heavily linked with a £25million move to the La Liga giants, is on his way.

'There's been a lot of talk lately and if he wanted to stay he probably would have signed a new contract by now,' Van der Sar said.

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has been strongly linked with a summer move to Real Madrid

De Gea arrived at Old Trafford in 2011 from La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and has become a fans' favourite

'At the start of the season you start with 11 players...nobody is irreplaceable, that's always the case.

'I'm sure United, if David is going to leave, they are going to find a good successor.'

One of those successors could be Ajax's Jasper Cillessen but Van der Sar, currently a director at the Dutch club he played for with distinction from 1990 to 1999, does not want to see the 26-year-old, who played for United manager Louis van Gaal at the World Cup, depart.

'I hope United aren't getting him!' said Van der Sar.

'Luckily I have some influence on that part, being on the board of Ajax. But of course, Jasper is a fantastic goalkeeper. 

'In the winter break I went to Qatar for a week and I trained with the goalkeepers there and had a session with them. He has also improved immensely. 

Former United keeper Edwin van der Sar expects De Gea to leave but insists the player isn't 'irreplaceable'

Van der Sar spent six years at Old Trafford and won a Champions League after signing for £5m from Fulham 

'He played great for the national team in the World Cup and is, like David here, a very reliable goalkeeper for us in Amsterdam. We would like to keep him for a while.'

Van der Sar, who spent six years at Old Trafford and won a Champions League after signing for £5m from Fulham in 2005, believes De Gea, 24, has improved considerably since he replaced him as an £18.3m signing from Atletico Madrid in 2011.

'He had some difficulties in his first year and in his second year he came on well and in the third and fourth he really progressed immensely,' he explained.

'Of course, I don't know the candidates to replace him if he's going to leave the club. David has immense reflexes and is also good at coming out for corners. He has improved a lot there.'

Jasper Cillessen of Ajax, where Van der Sar is director, has been sounded out as a potential replacement 

Van der Sar would not be moved on whether he thought De Gea should sign the £200,000-a-week contract currently on the table at Old Trafford.

'I don't know,' he said.

'He comes from Spain, he played for Atletico Madrid. He came here as a young boy to United, really grew up and became a man and has become a top quality goalkeeper, so he's in demand.

'I don't know how his family situation is like, or that kind of thing.'

Van der Sar thinks that current back-up and ex-Spain star Victor Valdes could make the step up to the United first team but refused to rule out a Van Gaal making a move for another goalkeeper with Tottenham's Hugo Lloris, Chelsea's Petr Cech and Stoke City's Asmir Begovic linked with the club.

But Van der Sar suggests current back-up Victor Valdes could make the step up to the United first team

'Louis also likes a goalkeeper who can play with his feet also and just behind the defence,' he explained.

'Victor Valdes has also played like that at Barcelona for a while,' he said. 'Or maybe they are looking for different one also.'

Van der Sar played under compatriot Van Gaal for Ajax, when he masterminded them to a stunning Champions League victory in 1995.

He believes the job his former boss is undertaking at Old Trafford is very different the task he inherited in Amsterdam.

'I think it's different,' said Van der Sar, ahead of his appearance in Sunday's Legends match against Bayern Munich for the Manchester United Foundation.

United have tried to persuade De Gea to stay with a £200,000-a-week contract currently on the table

'In '91 when he took over, Ajax has always been a young team - heavily reliable on the academy.

'Maybe you can compare it to the Class of '92 here. A lot of homegrown players and a few additions. With the guidance of Louis, his technical awareness and the spirit, he brought high quality football. 

'This is a different situation, an existing situation and he had to make major renovations. Hopefully he can succeed and next year they can challenge again. It's a strong league, the money is available but the other teams are not slacking.'

Red Devils boss Louis van Gaal has been hailed by Van der Sar who says the Dutch coach is still 'competitive'

Van der Sar added that Van Gaal, who led United to fourth place in the Premier League last season, had not changed.

'I don't see a lot of difference,' he said.

'I was here five or six months ago to the training ground, watching training, I had a word with him afterwards in his office. He's still somebody who is really competitive and wants to make things work in his way and the way he had success as Ajax, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.'