Is David de Gea leaving Manchester United?
- Spanish goalkeeper's contract at Old Trafford has expired
- Signed new deal before club changed terms
- De Gea had previously turned down an offer from Saudi Arabia
There was a time not so long ago when David de Gea was the most coveted goalkeeper in the world.
The Spaniard's persistent heroics between the sticks for the Red Devils triggered a pursuit from Real Madrid which spanned several transfer windows. However, in the end, a mammoth contract offer from Man Utd convinced him to stay as Los Blancos pivoted to Thibaut Courtois.
Since Courtois' move to the Bernabeu, De Gea's fortunes have been mixed at best. Sure, he won the Premier League's Golden Glove award in 2022/23 with 16 clean sheets, but questions over his viability for Erik ten Hag have been raised since the Dutchman's appointment was announced and a poor end to the season, one that concluded with a shoddy display in the FA Cup final, has cast a big cloud over his future at United.
Is David de Gea leaving Man Utd?
De Gea is officially a free agent after his contract expired on Friday 30 June. However, United are still keen on keeping the Spaniard at the club, a sentiment echoed by manager Ten Hag.
If De Gea is to stay, he'll have to accept terms that pale in comparison to his previous £375,000-a-week deal. The goalkeeper had signed a new contract with a weekly wage of £200,000 only for United to pull the offer.
De Gea will resume talks with United once he returns to Manchester, with his situation still pretty ambiguous. There's a willingness on behalf of both parties to get a deal done, but the Red Devils' proactivity in the goalkeeper market this summer suggests De Gea will likely play a bit-part role moving forward if he is to prolong his stay at Old Trafford.
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Who could replace David de Gea at Man Utd?
Andre Onana, who worked with Ten Hag at Ajax, has been targeted by the Red Devils as a potential De Gea replacement.
Current club Inter want a total fee of €60m to take the former Cameroon international away from San Siro, and given United will soon add Mason Mount to their books for £60m, a fee that large for Onana could be difficult due to Financial Fair Play concerns.
The Red Devils have also been linked with the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt's Kevin Trapp and Feyenoord's Justin Bijlow in recent days - two drastically cheaper options compared to Onana. David Raya and Diogo Costa have also been mentioned in association with the Red Devils, but both are valued closer to Onana's price tag.
United, meanwhile, are expected to see the back of Dean Henderson this summer after the Englishman spent 2022/23 on loan at Nottingham Forest. United will finally look to complete a permanent sale.
Who could sign David de Gea this summer?
De Gea no longer boasts the prestige of his apex, but several clubs are interested in acquiring his services on a free transfer.
Courtois' relentless heroics in between Real Madrid's sticks mean Los Blancos are no longer an option for the 32-year-old, although Spanish clubs Real Betis and Sevilla have been tenuously linked. The latter could be a serious option for De Gea if Bono departs this summer.
Then there's the Saudi Pro League to consider. 32, high profile, and out of contract, De Gea is the Saudis' dream. He had previously rejected an offer from the Middle East to stay at United but things could change if De Gea elects not to re-sign at Old Trafford.
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