Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea has caused quite a steer on social media with a cryptic tweet just two days before his contract is set to expire.
De Gea, who joined the Red Devils in the summer of 2011 for approximately £19 million, has made 545 appearances across all competitions for the team.
The Spaniard has been the preferred choice in goal for the majority of his time at the club. However, he faced criticism in the recent season due to several costly errors.
United have been contemplating whether to offer De Gea a new contract due to concerns about his inconsistent performances and high weekly wages of £350,000.
The uncertainty surrounding his position as the team’s number one goalkeeper under manager Erik ten Hag has led to a change of direction regarding the contract negotiations, which are set to expire within two days.
De Gea’s recent social media post, featuring a yawning emoji, appears to allude to his frustration with the ongoing contract saga, suggesting he is tired of the club’s lack of action.
The post quickly garnered significant attention, with thousands of retweets, quote tweets, and likes within half an hour.
🥱
— David de Gea (@D_DeGea) June 28, 2023
A new contract with reduced wages of £200,000 per week had been agreed upon between De Gea and the club. However, Ten Hag’s reservations about retaining him as the number-one goalkeeper has jeopardized the deal.
The 32-year-old had already signed the new contract before United withdrew their offer and submitted a new one which was deemed even lower than the original offer.
With just days remaining before the keeper becomes a free agent, his future at Old Trafford appears more uncertain than ever.
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There is a possibility that United could re-sign the Spaniard even after his contract expires, but given the circumstances and the apparent frustration between the player and the club, it appears unlikely.
The most likely outcome is that the veteran keeper will depart and explore opportunities with other clubs, including lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia.
As a potential replacement, United have engaged in preliminary discussions regarding a deal for Inter Milan’s Andre Onana, although reports of a £50 million bid are considered premature.
Other goalkeepers such as Diogo Costa from Porto, David Raya from Brentford, and highly rated youngster Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht have also been evaluated by United.
The Red Devils require sales to finance new signings in the ongoing transfer window and ideally would prefer to secure their current no.1 keeper on a new contract rather than having to acquire a replacement this summer.
