At this point last year, De Gea's Manchester United career looked almost coming to an end, when he was in average shape, and then returned to Spain on paternity leave to welcome the birth of his daughter, directly losing the starting position he had occupied for 10 years. However, less than a year later, De Gea is back at the top and will be renewed by Manchester United, and instead his rival Dean Henderson is likely to leave as a result.
British media revealed that Manchester United intend to open negotiations with De Gea to renew his contract, and his performance this season has been very good, and there is a good chance to win the best player in the team again. In January, the Spanish international even won the Premier League Player of the Month, becoming the first goalkeeper in six years to receive this award.
It can be said that if it were not for De Gea's many wonderful saves, Manchester United would have been hopeless in the top four by now. In the Premier League goalkeeper's list of saves, De Gea is number one with 89 saves, ahead of Leeds United's Messlier and Leicester City's Caspar Schmeichel (both 80).
Britain's "Sun" has revealed Manchester United's detailed plans to renew De Gea's contract, first activating its one-year priority renewal rights. De Gea, 31, is under contract with Manchester United, which expires in 2023 and will be extended until June 2024 after using the renewal clause.
After that, United will enter into formal contract extension talks with De Gea's agent Jorge Mendes. According to reports, Manchester United will change the old strategy of signing players once a year and cutting salaries after the age of 30, and for De Gea, who has played for the team for 10 years, he will receive the same salary and get a longer-term contract.
If the contract is renewed, De Gea's weekly salary will remain at £375,000, although the payment structure may be adjusted to increase the proportion linked to performance.
After being forced to draw by Southampton last weekend, De Gea's signature foot save was criticised by former England manager Glenn Hoddell, who believed he could block Che Adams' shot if the United goalkeeper fell to the ground and saved with his hand. 'Adams' shot was brilliant and I thought his arcing ball went around De Gea. Hodel said, "Until I watched the slow motion. In this case, why De Gea saved with his foot, I don't know. He made a lot of wonderful saves with his feet, but at that angle, he shouldn't have used his feet. As a goalkeeper, I don't understand that. If he falls to the ground, uses his foot to defend the near goalpost, and then saves the ball with his hand, he should be able to save this shot. I did think at first that it was the striker who shot from a good angle, but when I saw the goal for the second time, I thought the way the goalkeeper saved was also one of the reasons."
After the game, De Gea also publicly reminded Manchester United teammates that they must improve their performance. 'The situation of the team needs to improve as soon as possible and we have to take the lesson that it's not good enough.' De Gea said on social networking sites.
Once United renew de Gea' contract, the 24-year-old England international Henderson is likely to leave the team this summer. His contract with Manchester United is also as high as £120,000 a week until 2025, however, henderson, who aims to participate in the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year, is unlikely to stay on the cold bench without playing.
Interim manager Ronnick rejected Henderson's loan application in January, but if De Gea decides to stay in the squad for a long time, the sale of the England goalkeeper may be an inevitable outcome, he is not short of buyers, and United can receive a considerable transfer fee.