Manchester United back out of David de Gea agreement despite signed contract

David de Gea signed a contract extension with Manchester United only for the club to back out of the agreed proposal.

De Gea, 32, agreed to a drastic reduction on his current £375,000 per week wages, but the club did not sign the contract.

And they have now submitted a new proposal to De Gea, whose contract expires on June 30, with an even lower salary.

This is yet to be agreed by the goalkeeper, who wants to continue playing at the highest level and is now considering his options.

Discussions between the two parties are ongoing and it remains in the balance as to whether De Gea will accept the new offer that was put in front of him. There is interest in him from Saudi Arabia.

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United are also weighing up their options and have had contact with Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana’s representatives in recent days.

Another potential avenue would be to bring back Dean Henderson, who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, and make him the new No 1.

Pending a goalkeeping arrival, United’s main priority in the window this summer is to sign a centre-forward and a midfielder.

Talks have been held over Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund and Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani while Chelsea have turned down a third offer from United for England international Mason Mount.

Analysis by Carl Anka

De Gea is currently on a £375,000-per-week contract ($463,000) at United, which makes him the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world and the highest-paid Spanish footballer.

He won another Golden Glove award this season, but he is perceived much differently now than he was when he won his first accolade.

Every goalkeeper strives for clean sheets, but they are not always a straightforward indicator of goalkeeping quality. The De Gea that won the 2022-23 award is different to the De Gea in his 2017-18 pomp. De Gea’s weaknesses when contributing to his team’s possession, coupled with his reluctance to come off his line to make saves or claim opponent’s crosses mean fewer fans regard him as the best goalkeeper in the league.

Erik ten Hag may talk up De Gea in public, but he is aware of his goalkeeper’s weaknesses in build-up, and often tasks De Gea with kicking long against opponents who can press well.

It is not an ideal situation for the United manager, who wishes to make United more capable of playing settled possession but cannot do so as long as De Gea remains his No 1.

(Photo: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)