For a long while last summer it looked as though Manchester United were going to lose prized goalkeeper David de Gea to Real Madrid as they looked to bring him back to his native Spain.

With Zinedine Zidane unconvinced by the abilities of Costa Rican international Keylor Navas, the Madrid boss looked to convince the current Spanish number one to return home.

However, the 26-year-old spurned Zidane's advances to remain at Old Trafford, though there is talk again of the La Liga leaders resuming their interest again this summer.

Stories linking Real with both de Gea and Chelsea stopper Thibaut Courtois have refused to go away, and while the Blues are confidence they can keep hold of the Belgian international, United are apparently feeling rather jittery.

And as such, they have drawn up a two-man shortlist of potential replacements for the Spanish star and will make a move for either depending on how events unfold during the transfer window.

De Gea's girlfriend Edurne Garcia is well known to want a return to Madrid, which may help form his decision on his future, but a bigger factor will undoubtedly be whether the club can qualify for next season's Champions League.

United are closing in on fourth place but are also still in with a shout of lifting the Europa League. Both outcomes would guarantee United passage into the competition next year, though right now it can't be guaranteed.

But according to a report in the Independent, United are looking to towards Italy's Serie A for a replacement should de Gea move on with two names in particular standing out above the others.

Currently, United's first choice is Inter Milan's Samir Handanovic. The 32-year-old has been a regular performer in Italy since 2004 when he pitched up at Udinese, before earning a move to Inter in 2012.

The 32-year-old has previously on the radar of the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City, though their interest was never backed up with an advance.

Failing that, United will try an ambitious move for Milan's prized starlet Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 18-year-old has made the position his own at Milan, but there have lately been doubts surrounding his own future, and United may look to pounce to bring him to England.

But despite his apparent maturity, a move to England now would surely come too soon for him and could threaten to hinder his progress. He'll also cost more than United would likely want to pay, so he would represent a great risk at this stage in his career.