Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea’s contract, which came to an end on Friday, has left uncertainty regarding his future at Old Trafford.
Initially, there had been an agreement on the framework of a contract extension, but it appears that the terms were altered afterward, leading both parties to take a step back and contemplate their preferred direction.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, De Gea is set to get married this weekend, causing face-to-face discussions to be postponed until after the wedding.
Having spent an impressive 12 years at the club and featuring in 545 games, the 32-year-old Spain goalkeeper has been a significant figure for Manchester United.
Despite the ongoing speculation surrounding his future, De Gea has maintained contact with the club. Interestingly, his response to the rumors was a tweet containing a yawning emoji earlier this week.
During the previous season, De Gea won the Premier League Golden Glove for the second time, securing 17 clean sheets. His performances earned him the club’s Player of the Year award for the fourth time.
Both De Gea and manager Erik ten Hag expressed confidence in the player’s continued presence at the club towards the end of the last season.
Although there is still a possibility of De Gea signing a contract extension, starting from Saturday, he will be free to negotiate and sign with any other club, as he had been allowed to agree to pre-contract terms with overseas suitors since January.
Manchester United has been pushing for De Gea to accept a substantial reduction in his wages, considering his current record-breaking £375,000-per-week deal signed in 2019.
Even if his contract is adjusted to a lower level, De Gea would still be among the highest-paid goalkeepers, making it challenging for him to find comparable terms elsewhere.
However, if the 32-year-old does decide to leave the club after a successful 12 seasons, during which he won five major honors and became the last player to win a Premier League title with Manchester United, it would pose a problem for manager Ten Hag.
Reports suggest that tentative discussions have taken place with Inter Milan’s talented Cameroon goalkeeper, Andre Onana. However, Ten Hag is constrained by a limited budget. Furthermore, with the club already securing the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea for £55 million and seeking a center-forward, they would need to sell players before pursuing a move for the 27-year-old Onana.
In the meantime, Manchester United has exercised a one-year option to retain the services of veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who has garnered interest from Luton. Additionally, Dean Henderson, who suffered a thigh injury during his loan spell with Nottingham Forest in January, has returned to the club to recover.
