Roland Cutinho
David de Gea could now consider his options after shocking Manchester United U-turn
Veteran goalkeeper David de Gea’s future at Manchester United has become even more uncertain following reports that he had accepted an offer before the club changed their mind.
As the Red Devils are already dealing with a number of transfer-related issues, one of the key concerns revolves around who will be the starting goalkeeper for Erik ten Hag’s team in the upcoming season.
In just a matter of days, De Gea’s contract with the club will expire, potentially marking the end of his 12-year tenure at Old Trafford, during which he made 545 appearances across all competitions.
United have already begun preparing for a future without him, with names like Diogo Costa and Inter Milan’s Andre Onana being linked with potential moves to the club.
The 32-year-old’s contract issues have continued to create headlines, and they still have the capacity to grab the highest amount of attention from the fans.
It has long been expected that the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper would need to accept a significant reduction in his wages to remain at the club. De Gea is currently earning close to £375,000 per week, and that could get reduced to £200,000 per week if he accepts a new contract.
According to The Athletic (subscription required), De Gea had already reached an agreement with United on new contract terms that involved a substantial pay cut.
However, the club ultimately did not sign the contract and backed out of the deal. United then presented the keeper with a different proposal, offering even further reduced wages, but the goalkeeper has yet to agree to the revised terms.
This is shocking news to hear since the club has now given the player reasons to ignore a new contract proposal. This move by the club is disrespectful to a player who has been their best goalkeeper for years.
The Spaniard is currently contemplating his options and remains eager to continue playing at the highest level, making it less likely for Saudi Pro League clubs to pursue him.
Even if he stays at Man United, there is no assurance that he will be Erik ten Hag’s preferred choice in his starting XI.
De Gea‘s performance took a hit last season, despite him winning the Premier League’s Golden Glove award. He made several high-profile mistakes, including one in the FA Cup final that led to Ilkay Gundogan’s winning goal.
The fans have questioned his inability to distribute the ball from the box, a style of play that the manager favoured last season. However, as per the Mirror, Ten Hag still prefers to stick with the veteran shot-stopper due to the financial implications of signing a new goalkeeper.
Backing off doesn’t seem like a wise move by the club, as it could cause further confusion in the keeper’s mind regarding the club’s plans. But there is a belief that De Gea will stick to the club if the management wants to keep him in their plans. However, Man United needs to show more clarity on these ongoing contract issues.
If the Red Devils want to sign a new keeper, they have to be quick enough to seal a transfer this summer. Inter Milan shot-stopper Onana’s agent had already held a meeting with the United board. The Cameroonian keeper could directly get a spot in the starting XI. But a lack of seriousness from the club could go on to bite them in the upcoming weeks.
More Manchester United News
- Inter Milan expect an offer for Andre Onana from Manchester United this week
- David de Gea handed Manchester United contract boost amid Erik ten Hag’s U-turn
- Real Madrid shot-stopper Thibaut Courtois on Manchester United radar
In our opinion, the club should either solve their contract issues with De Gea or prepare to sign a new keeper. Just standing still in the middle of the road won’t help them progress in the ongoing transfer window.
