Van Gaal: Man Utd have offered De Gea 'a lot of money'

De Gea is in the running to win the PFA Player of the Year award following a string of fine performances for United.

Real Madrid's interest in De Gea has strengthened because of those displays and a transfer to the European champions would have its merits for the player, particularly when his girlfriend Edurne Garcia resides in the Spanish capital.

In January Van Gaal said he expected the 24-year-old to extend his contract, which expires in June 2016, but three months on, there are no signs of progress.

That is not due to a lack of willing on United's part. They have offered the Spaniard a bumper new deal as they are desperate for him to stay, Van Gaal has revealed.

"It takes a long time now," the United boss said when asked how negotiations are progressing. "It can always happen. I am not the boss. I want him to stay. The player is the boss he can say yes or no.

"You will have to ask David de Gea (if he is staying), not me. He has to sign. We have offered him a lot of money."

Although Van Gaal wants the former Atletico Madrid man to stay, he at least knows he already has a tailor-made replacement in three-time Champions League winner Victor Valdes, who has not played for United since signing on a free transfer in January.

The club have been scouring the planet for players in other positions, most notably in midfield and in the wide positions.

Van Gaal would neither confirm nor deny reports he had met with PSV Eindhoven forward Memphis Depay.

"I don't discuss it with the media," Van Gaal said of the Eredivisie top scorer, who was a regular for Holland under the United manager.

"I have a lot of relationships with players. I cannot buy all the players I've coached already."

Ilkay Gundogan is also of interest to the club, although reports that claim United are on the verge of signing the Borussia Dortmund midfielder are understood to be wide of the mark.

Van Gaal could rekindle his interest in Gundogan's team-mate Mats Hummels and Nathaniel Clyne has also been linked with the club.

Van Gaal had to wait until towards the end of the transfer window last summer before completing all his signings and he concedes that may be the case this summer too.

"Of course it's an advantage (to start early) but it's also dependable on the market, which players are free, which players want the clubs in the world to sell. It's not so easy and I don't want to buy every player," he said.

Van Gaal's men will look to strengthen their grip on third place when they travel to Everton on Sunday. Two days after United's defeat at Goodison Park last year David Moyes was sacked and Ryan Giggs took charge on a temporary basis.

The former United winger presided over four matches before accepting an offer to become Van Gaal's assistant.

On Friday, the Dutchman said he expected Giggs to succeed him as manager.

"I expect that he (Giggs) will be the next manager after I am gone," said Van Gaal, whose contract expires in 2017.

"Now I have the responsibility. He has tasks that he has to perform like the players. What he has to do, for me, he does it very well."