De Gea undergoes Manchester medical

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea was undergoing a medical at Manchester United on Monday afternoon.

De Gea, 20, has long been expected to complete a move to Old Trafford and, following the conclusion of his successful European Under-21 Championship campaign with Spain, he is now due to complete the switch, which will reportedly cost £17.8 million.

The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper has long been expected to complete a move to Old Trafford after he was identified by Sir Alex Ferguson as a fitting replacement for Edwin van der Sar.

De Gea arrived at Bridgewater Hospital on Monday following the conclusion of Spain's successful European Under-21 Championship campaign on Saturday and is now ready to put the finishing touches on his move to the Premier League champions.

The deal with both Dea Gea and Atletico Madrid has been agreed for some time but the conclusion of the move has been put on hold, largely due to a dispute with an agent.

De Gea felt the opportunity to join one of the biggest clubs in Europe was too good to turn down and chose to reject an offer to extend his Atletico Madrid contract beyond 2013.

Ferguson considered a move for Manuel Neuer or Maarten Stekelenburg but is convinced De Gea has the ability to be the club's No.1 for many years.

The deal takes United's summer spending to more than £50m following the the signing of defender Phil Jones from Blackburn and winger Ashley Young from Aston Villa.

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes his fellow Spaniard will be a hit in England despite his relative lack of experience.

“I very much welcome this news because David is a great keeper,” Reina 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.”

De Gea, who has been compared to Real Madrid and Spain keeper Iker Casillas, broke into the Atletico side in 2009 before helping the club to win the Europa League last season and the Uefa Super Cup in August.