Manchester United goalkeeping legend Edwin van der Sar expects David de Gea to leave the club this summer – but says the Spaniard is not “irreplaceable”.

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Louis van Gaal’s men are bracing themselves for a bid from Real Madrid as the £30 million-rated 24-year-old enters the final year of his contract.

And van der Sar, who won four Premier League titles and a Champions League during six years at United, 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.

“There’s been a lot of talk lately, and if he wanted to stay, he probably would have signed a new contract by now.

“David has immense reflexes and is also good at coming out for corners – he has improved a lot there. Louis also likes a goalkeeper who can play with his feet also and just behind the defence. Victor Valdes has also played like that at Barcelona for a while – or maybe they are looking for different one also. 

“At the start of the season you start with 11 players. Some things work out and other things you get a different type, so nobody is irreplaceable, that’s always the case. But I’m sure United, if David is going to leave, are going to find a good successor.”

That could even be current Dutch No 1 Jasper Cillessen, someone who van der Sar knows well as he is a director at Ajax, where the 26-year-old has grown to become a top stopper for club and country.

“I hope United aren’t getting him,” he added, speaking at the Manchester United Legends v Bayern Munich Legends game on Sunday in aid of the Manchester United Foundation.

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

“He has also improved immensely. 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.”