Manchester United Transfer News Now: De Gea’s future at United hangs in a balance as United’s new offer to the Spaniard has yet to yield any results
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea faces a challenging situation as negotiations for his contract extension have hit a hurdle. The 32-year-old had initially agreed to a substantial reduction in his current weekly wages of £375,000, but the club has been unable to finalize the proposed agreement. Instead, Manchester United has presented a new offer that features an even lower salary for De Gea, according to The Athletic.
The uncertain future of De Gea as Manchester United’s first-choice goalkeeper has left him contemplating his options. Ongoing discussions between the player and the club have yet to yield a resolution, with the latest offer from Manchester United potentially resulting in a significant reduction of De Gea’s earnings. Additionally, speculations have emerged about potential interest in De Gea from Saudi Arabia.
In light of the uncertainty surrounding De Gea’s contract situation, Manchester United has been exploring other options for goalkeeping. Two potential targets that have emerged are David Raya from Brentford and Andre Onana from Inter Milan. However, it seems that Brentford’s high valuation of £40 million for Raya has deterred both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur from pursuing a deal. On the other hand, acquiring Onana may require a fee exceeding £50 million. Another possibility for United is to recall Dean Henderson, who had a loan spell at Nottingham Forest last season, and appoint him as their new first-choice goalkeeper. However, this outcome appears to be highly unlikely.
Erik ten Hag, the manager of Manchester United, is well aware of De Gea’s limitations when it comes to his contribution in the team’s build-up play. In scenarios where the opponents employ a high pressing strategy, Ten Hag frequently instructs De Gea to resort to long kicks instead. This poses a challenge for the manager, as he strives to implement a calm possession-based style of play but encounters difficulties while De Gea continues as the team’s 1st choice goalkeeper.
Despite some notable errors that received criticism during this past season, De Gea exhibited consistent performances and earned his second Premier League Golden Glove award. With an exceptional record of 190 clean sheets in 545 appearances for the club, De Gea has now surpassed Peter Schmeichel’s long standing record. The potential departure of De Gea from Manchester United will signify the end of a deep-rooted relationship with the club, considering his status as the seventh-highest appearance maker in the team’s history.
(Images via Getty)
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