The Spain international's future is again the subject of intense speculation and has forced Louis van Gaal and Ryan Giggs to look at potential replacements should he leave

Manchester United assistant manager Ryan Giggs has identified Kasper Schmeichel as the perfect replacement for David de Gea should the Spaniard complete a move to Real Madrid, according to The Sun.

Real Madrid have been given a transfer ban from Fifa which will prevent them from signing players during the close season and next January, and the newspaper reports the Spanish giants are considering activating a £30.5 million release clause in De Gea’s contract this month.

De Gea’s move to the Bernabeu collapsed at the last minute back in August due to an administrative error which triggered a bitter feud between both clubs. 

The 25-year-old sat out the first few games of the season but returned once the dust settled on the controversy and has again been one of United’s best players this term. De Gea did, however, reignite talk of a potential move earlier this month when he updated his Facebook page with a picture of himself in a kit that bore a strong resemblance to that of Real Madrid’s.

The uncertainty surrounding his future has prompted United to look for alternatives and Giggs believes Schmeichel, one of the standout performers in Leicester City’s incredible season, is ready to emulate his father Peter, who played alongside the Welshman in United's 1999 treble win, and represent Manchester United.