David de Gea signed a contract extension at Manchester United before the club made a U-turn on the agreed deal.
The 32-year-old Spanish goalkeeper’s current contract is set to expire on the 30th of June, 2023, meaning that he could be a free agent from Saturday, 1st of July, 2023.
What happened between Manchester United and David de Gea?
The Old Trafford club officials are eager to keep the former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper but only if he agrees to take an enormous pay cut.
There have been talks between the two parties for months, but a breakthrough was eventually made in later weeks before the club chiefs had a change of mind.
David de Gea is reportedly ready to put pen to paper on terms that drastically harmed his existing 375,000 pounds a week wages, only for Manchester United to not sign the deal themselves.
Meanwhile, the club have now launched a fresh suggestion with the Spaniard with an even lower salary, the report claims the recent Carabao Cup winner’s future at Old Trafford is increasingly unstable.
De Gea’s possibilities of settling expanded terms at the eleventh hour were stimulated last week due to Man United head coach Erik ten Hag’s hesitation to waste a considerable portion of his transfer grant on a new goalkeeper.
However, according to reports, David de Gea will become a free agent on the 1st of July, 2023, and he is yet to agree to the deadest contract offer as he proceeds to wrestle with his alternatives.
The outlines of a new contract that will cut De Gea’s pay have been in place for some time, but Erik ten Hag is not sure that the former Atletico Madrid man should remain his No. 1 and would prefer to buy a new first-choice goalkeeper.
De Gea’s camp and the club are still in negotiations, but with only a few days left before his departure, the situation is uncertain.
De Gea has not yet signed the revised contract, he is reportedly thinking things over at the moment.
Meanwhile, David de Gea has been strongly linked with a move away from Manchester United with several clubs from Saudi Arabia reportedly registering interest in acquiring the current Premier League golden glove winner.
The one-time FA Cup winner is believed to be keen to endure playing regularly at the highest level but may see his playing time reduced in the upcoming season with Ten Hag open to looking elsewhere.
The former Spain international would love to extend his 12-year stint in Manchester, during which he has won eight trophies, by remaining at Old Trafford.
Still, the club has informed De Gea, that he is not assured of retaining his starting position in goal for the upcoming season.
This is in response to a string of miscues near the close of the 2022–23 season that proved costly for Ten Hag’s squad.
United’s manager has always been adamant about keeping De Gea, who has been with the club since Sir Alex Ferguson brought him in to replace Edwin van der Sar in 2011.
Manchester United in search of De Gea’s replacement
According to football insiders, Andre Onana of Inter Milan who is expected to cost 43 million pounds has been the subject of preliminary negotiations between the Champions League finalist and Manchester United, who are considering adding a new starting goalkeeper to their roster.
Onana’s agent, Albert Botines, met with United representatives last week to discuss a possible transfer, although the ultimate decision is contingent on what happens with De Gea.
During his time with Ajax, Onana played for Ten Hag. He later moved to Inter Milan and started for the club in their Champions League final loss to Manchester City in Istanbul.
United have spoken to other goalkeeping options including Diogo Costa of Porto, David Raya of Brentford, and highly touted youngster Bart Verbruggen of Anderlecht in case De Gea does remain at the club.
In addition, United are adamant that despite the length of their takeover situation, funds will be made available for Ten Hag to add players this summer.
According to the club’s third-quarter financial update given on the 26th of June, 2023. This year’s income prediction was increased to a record £640 million and strained money are in the bank.
The only thing stopping Ten Hag from adding a new center forward, midfielder, and goalkeeper is the Financial Fair Play regulations.
United’s next season’s goalkeeper could be determined by their transfer budget, which is rumored to be over £120 million.
If De Gea leaves, Dean Henderson would be a cost-effective replacement, albeit he apparently does not understand why he should stay.
David de Gea’s stats with Man United
De Gea has won a Premier League championship, FA Cup, two League Cups, three Community Shields, and a UEFA Europa League with Manchester United and has appeared in more than 500 games for the club.
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