David de Gea flies in to Spain... for a holiday?

The Manchester United goalkeeper is reportedly desperate to have his future sorted out before pre-season training begins on Monday.

With that in mind, the timing of his arrival in the Spanish capital seems certain to indicate that negotiations are at an advanced stage - though the player himself, when asked by the waiting media, merely said that he was in town for a holiday and a few days' rest.

"'I just came to relax," he said. "I'm on vacation. Everything is going well."

Though De Gea has been linked to Real Madrid for months, the status of the deal has been confused for several days as conflicting reports claim that Manchester United are either sticking to their £35 million valuation or ready to budge to the £20-£25m that Real are hoping to pay.

One thing seems certain, however: a deal is clearly being thrashed out, and while United and Real may be yet to agree the details the player wants to return to play in his hometown.

Fans on Twitter quickly jumped to the conclusion that some sort of announcement is imminent - and rubbished the player's suggestion that he is merely in town for a couple of days holiday:

AS's front page claims that "Louis van Gaal is expecting him back on Monday", however, so it is possible.

Far be it from us to suggest that De Gea was lying to the reporter who thrust a camera and a microphone in his face as he arrived in Madrid, by saying that he was just popping home for a short holiday. But the man was pictured wheeling a trolley full of cases. Would you really bother taking so much luggage home if it were just a 48 hour visit? It seems like one of the big transfer sagas of the summer is about to come to a close.