Manchester United are committed to keeping David de Gea next season but have been given no assurances he will continue as the club’s No.1, sources have told ESPN.
De Gea, who was at fault for West Ham’s goal in United’s 1-0 win at the London Stadium on Sunday, is in talks to extend his contract at Old Trafford due to expire in June.
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United have the option to trigger an automatic one-year extension until 2024 but sources have told ESPN that the club’s bosses are keen to agree new terms on a longer deal which would include a reduced basic wage but with increased performance-related bonuses.
Sources have told ESPN that only minor details have yet to be agreed but it is understood the 32-year-old, who has made 540 United appearances over a decade, is given no guarantee that he will be Erik ten Haag’s first choice. Goalkeeper next season.
The Dutchman will have to prioritize which areas of the squad he wants to strengthen in the summer with United taking a “prudential” approach to the window due to concerns over Financial Fair Play compliance.
Ten Hague want a striker and have a strong interest in Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane, and the recruitment team have drawn up a list of goalkeepers to watch, including Brentford’s David Raya and Porto’s Diogo Costa.
United are also set to hold talks with Dean Henderson, who spent the season on loan at Nottingham Forest.
Henderson underwent surgery on a thigh injury and will not play again this season but is expected to return to practice in July. The 26-year-old England goalkeeper has a contract at Old Trafford until 2025, although he has attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League and abroad ahead of the summer window.
Despite concerns over De Gea’s ability to play from the back, Ten Haag has not ruled out the possibility of starting next season with the Spaniard as his No.1, especially if the bulk of his transfer budget is used elsewhere in the squad. .
De Gea’s mistake against West Ham, Ben Rahman’s tame shot from distance into his own net from distance, left United just a point ahead of Liverpool in the race for the top four but with a game in hand.
De Gea was heavily criticized for his performance in last month’s 3-0 defeat to Sevilla which saw United exit the Europa League in the quarter-finals but speaking at the London Stadium on Sunday, Ten Haag said the goalkeeper still had his support.
“He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League, so without him we wouldn’t be in this position,” Ten Haag told a news conference. “So he has my trust, no worries. Mistakes happen, but as a team you have to deal with it, you have to show character, be resilient and come back and this team will do that.”
