In a surprising turn of events, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has made a bold statement, expressing his unwavering desire to secure a contract extension for David de Gea, despite the goalkeeper’s costly error during Sunday’s clash with West Ham United.
The Red Devils, still reeling from a recent 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, faced yet another setback as they succumbed to an identical loss at the London Stadium. Just 27 minutes into the game, Said Benrahma unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, a shot that should have been an easy save for the diving De Gea. However, to everyone’s disbelief, the ball slipped past his grasp and found the back of the net, handing David Moyes’s relegation-threatened team a valuable victory.
This unfortunate blunder marks the fourth time this season that De Gea has made an error leading to a goal in any competition, placing him alongside Hugo Lloris as the Premier League goalkeepers with the most costly mistakes.
Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge De Gea’s exceptional performances as well. He currently leads the race for the prestigious Premier League Golden Glove, boasting an impressive tally of 15 clean sheets in the top-flight this season—two more than his closest contenders: Alisson Becker, Nick Pope, and Aaron Ramsdale. Additionally, De Gea played a pivotal role in Man United’s triumph in the EFL Cup final, where he started and completed the full 90 minutes in a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United.
However, De Gea’s future at Old Trafford remains uncertain, as his contract is set to expire in June. While the Red Devils have the option to activate a 12-month extension, they are insistent on renegotiating the terms, which includes a salary reduction from his current £375,000-a-week wage.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Erik ten Hag has come out in defense of his number one, publicly supporting De Gea and giving the green light for him to sign a new contract. In a recent press conference, the manager stated, “We want him to stay and we want him to extend his contract. He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League. We would not be here in this position without him.”
Manchester United finds itself at a critical juncture, with their lead over fifth-placed Liverpool reduced to just one point in the Premier League table. The team has managed only one victory in their last four games, heightening concerns about their ability to secure a coveted Champions League spot.
De Gea’s contribution to the club cannot be overlooked, having amassed an impressive record of 188 clean sheets in 540 appearances since his arrival in 2011—a feat that surpassed the legendary Peter Schmeichel’s previous record during the EFL Cup final just three months ago.
As the negotiations continue and the pressure mounts, the future of Manchester United‘s goalkeeping department remains in the spotlight. Will De Gea’s desire to stay at Old Trafford align with the club’s vision? Only time will tell if the Red Devils can weather this storm and bounce back stronger than ever.
