United will undergo a major "surgery" on the squad this summer, including a goalkeeper position. Currently, United have four goalkeepers, De Gea, Dean Henderson, Tom Heaton and Lee Grant, two of whom will leave the squad in the summer transfer window, and the Red Devils also intend to sign past academy goalkeeper Sam Johnstone for free as De Gea's bench.
United's current No. 2 goalkeeper will be 24-year-old England substitute Dean Henderson, but he is not content to act as a backup for De Gea, so there is a good chance that he will ask to leave the team this summer. Henderson almost squeezed out the 31-year-old De Gea under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but the injury at the end of last season and the subsequent contract with the new crown virus made it impossible for him to do so.
De Gea has played well this season after regaining the No. 1 position, the most stable player in the team, his contract expires in 2023, there is still a one-year priority renewal, Manchester United intends to renew the contract of the meritorious player who has played for the team for 10 years, which means that If Henderson stays in the team, he will have to wait, which he is not willing to accept.
In the summer window last year, United signed another academy goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, but he is 35 years old and may not be a long-term candidate for a substitute goalkeeper. Johnstone, on the other hand, is perfectly qualified, having joined Manchester United since he was a child and did not join West Brom until 2018, making more than 150 appearances to date.
And, with Johnstone, 28, on his contract expiring this summer, he has no intention of renewing his contract and is expected to leave as a free agent after his summer contract expires, and United can sign him for free without any transfer fees.
It is worth mentioning that although Johnstone has played for Manchester United for 6 years, he has never played for the first team, setting a record for the oldest youth player who has not yet made his debut before leaving the team. But United sold him for £6.5 million, the highest value for a youth player in recent years!
Johnstone has made great progress since leaving Manchester United, even being selected for England three times. This season, Johnston has made 31 appearances for West Brom and conceded just 27 goals, including an impressive 13 games with zero goals.
However, Johnstone had a poor performance in Last Friday's 2-2 draw with West Brom against Huddersfield Town, with mistakes resulting in two goals conceded.
Still, United could face competition from Tottenham, West Ham and Southampton, with West Ham being the most sincere and willing to let him play as the starting goalkeeper, as Moyes' current main goalkeeper Fabianski is 37 years old and needs to be replaced.
But west ham's negotiations with Johnstone, according to the British media, still have a "long way to go" and have not reached any agreement, and Manchester United hope to successfully cut off the beard and get a national goal at no cost.
In this way, Manchester United can sell Henderson, get around 20 million pounds in transfer fees, while saving its weekly salary of up to 120,000 pounds, Johnstone does not need a transfer fee, his weekly salary of up to 70,000 pounds or 80,000 pounds, the club will be able to get a lot of funds, for this summer's rebuilding.
Meanwhile, 39-year-old England veteran Lee Grant, who will also expire on his contract this summer, may leave the team or retire to stay in the team as goalkeeper coach. If all goes according to plan, United's goalkeeping staffing next season will be: De Gea, Johnstone and Heaton, all at the national level, and United's goalkeeper position is still quite strong.