Erik ten Hag’s ruthless David de Gea call as Napoli ‘take it for granted’

De Gea signed a hefty deal in 2019 that made him not only the club’s highest-paid player but also the Premier League’s top earner on £375,000 per week. The goalkeeper accepts that at the age of 32, he cannot command the same type of money, but still wants an amount that reflects his value.

United are thought to be on the lookout for a new goalkeeper this summer to provide competition for De Gea’s place and possibly usurp him as first choice. Costa is one candidate, while United are keeping tabs on Brentford shot stopper David Raya – although Tottenham ’s interest is thought to be more advanced for the Spaniard, who is out of contract in 2024.

A report in A Bola claims that United’s interest in Costa is already well under way, with Chelsea and Newcastle said to hold an interest – but neither club is advanced. The future of the shot-stopper will come to a swift conclusion after Sunday’s Portuguese Cup final, it is added.

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Separately, it is claimed that Manchester United have an agreement in place to land defender Kim from Napoli. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, insiders at Napoli are ‘taking it for granted’ Kim will be a United player in the summer.

Kim, 26, has been linked with a summer switch to Old Trafford for months despite only moving to Naples last year. The South Korean international enjoyed a tremendous campaign as he starred in the club’s remarkable Serie A title-winning campaign, but his contract contains a release clause that is believed to be £43million.

United boss Erik ten Hag wants to add another elite central defender to his ranks this summer to compete with Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez for a starting role – both have had injury issues this campaign. Luke Shaw has often been deployed in the position this season.