Soccer:Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson is closing in on his third signing of the summer after Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea arrived at Old Trafford for a medical.

Ferguson revealed a few weeks ago the club were in negotiations with the Spanish side but the finalities of the deal were delayed by the player’s involvement in the European Under-21 championships, which Spain won on Saturday.

With his international duty over De Gea flew into Manchester today to undergo a medical.

Should that go to plan it is likely the 20-year-old’s signing as the long-term successor to Edwin van der Sar, who retired at the end of last season, is expected to be confirmed.

United have already signed England Under-21 youngster Phil Jones from Blackburn and last week brought in Ashley Young from Aston Villa.

Ferguson was keen to fill the void left by the vastly-experienced Van der Sar as quickly as possible and De Gea, regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, was identified very early on by the Red Devils boss.

He is likely to cost somewhere in the region of €19million taking Ferguson’s summer spending close to €56million but if he can continue the progress he has with Atletico then it should be money well spent.

Such is De Gea’s reputation that compatriot and Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, who seems likely to face De Gea when the north-west rivals clash at Anfield on October 15th, reacted positively to the player’s move.

“I very much welcome this news because David is a great keeper,” he told La Gaceta.

“When it becomes official he is going to start working to prove in the Premier League what a good goalkeeper he is.”