The Spanish goalkeeper remains top of Florentino Perez's wish-list and the Real chief is preparing another raid next summer to bring De Gea to the Spanish capital.
According to 'The Mirror', Jose Mourinho is expecting 'Los Blancos' to try and sign the keeper, whose desire to return to his homeland may make a deal inevitable.
Madrid came close to signing De Gea on deadline day 2015, but a faulty fax machine stood in their way and he signed a new deal keeping him at Old Trafford until 2019. Next summer, once the keeper's contract enters its final 12 months, Real will look to secure his services.
De Gea, who has kept eight clean sheets in 12 Premier League fixtures this season, would be the perfect replacement for Keylor Navas.