David de Gea rejects Man Utd contract offer over ‘unsatisfactory’ salary reduction
David de Gea has rejected Manchester United’s initial contract offer – but talks remain ongoing.
The Spaniard’s deal at Old Trafford is winding down and he is seeking to iron out his future after more than a decade in Manchester. Discussions between the club and the individual continue, as players rarely accepting opening offers.
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.
He remains Erik ten Hag’s No.1 and talks regarding his contract are seeking to find a middle ground when it comes to the figure. The Athletic claims that United have put a good offer on the table but De Gea deemed it to be unsatisfactory and wants the sum to be increased.
The player wants to remain at Old Trafford and Ten Hag has given him his blessing to remain as he continues to reshape the dressing room. De Gea recently told the Manchester Evening News on his future: “Yeah, I’m very relaxed. [I] Just focus on training, perform as best as I can. But, for sure, it’s going to end in a good way.”
He also underlined his plan to see out his playing days in Manchester, adding: “I was saying this is my club. I’ve been here many, many years and it’s a huge honour to be here and I’m so happy here.”
United are in the midst of trying to re-sign Marcus Rashford to a new deal whilst the future of the club’s ownership is unclear, which further complicates matters.
De Gea has dominated the No.1 spot since arriving in 2011, playing under several different managers in that time, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He’s won more club player of the year awards than any other United player in that time but faced question marks several years ago when Dean Henderson burst onto the scene.
The England goalkeeper is out on loan at Nottingham Forest but is poised to return in the summer, although he is desperate for regular minutes and may push for a permanent Old Trafford exit when he returns. Martin Dubravka was signed on loan in the summer but never challenged De Gea before returning to Newcastle.
Ten Hag is known to want more competition for the No.1 jersey and is also seeking a goalkeeper capable of playing comfortably with his feet as he continues to implement his progressive philosophy.
