Manchester United and Erik ten Hag have important decisions to make before the season ends regarding some of their stars whose contract terms expire in a few months.
A particularly prominent example is that of David de Gea, who finds himself in a difficult situation with much uncertainty about his long-term future at Old Trafford.
The Spaniard is likely to become a free agent at the end of the season unless he is offered a new contract. United also have the option of triggering a one-year extension clause in their current deal.
However, Ten Hag is faced with a dilemma. Should he stick with the fan favorite and undoubtedly a club legend in the eyes of many, or ditch De Gea, who doesn’t necessarily align with the way he wants to play football?
The goalkeeper himself has come out publicly, indicating that he is willing to put pen to paper on new terms that would keep him at United for a considerable future.
The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell and Pol Ballus report that a realistic solution to the de Gea fiasco is to tie him into negotiations in which significantly reduced terms are top of the agenda.
According to Whitwell and Ballus, “De Gea said in the summer that he wanted to sign his future with United and that he would be willing to cut his salary to do so.”
“The 31-year-old accepts that he is very well paid, even after the 25 per cent cut for United not qualifying for the Champions League, and settles in Manchester.”
The only condition that the 31-year-old has before accepting lower salaries as indicated by The Athletic is to remain as the Red Devils’ starting goalkeeper.
The club, attentive to the situation, is already on the hunt for a good alternative or replacement for De Gea, who has been at United since 2011.
United’s goalkeeping chief Tony Coton is spearheading the search for a new goalkeeper and is said to have Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa and Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon at the top of his wish list.
However, Ten Hag is not beyond keeping De Gea beyond this season as a low-cost option should insufficient funds become available.
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