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David de Gea has agreed to sign a new contract at Man Utd but could still lose out on a starting place, according to reports.
The Spaniard’s current deal expires at the end of June with the Red Devils keen to tie him down on fresh terms rather than activating their 12-month option in his contract.
De Gea has made a number of high-profile errors this season and there have been rumours that Man Utd are looking for a new number one, even if the Spain international signs a new deal.
The Daily Telegraph claim that De Gea ‘has agreed the terms of his new contract at Manchester United to stay beyond the present season’ with the goalkeeper accepting a deal that includes a ‘lower basic salary and incentives for matches played and performances in competitions’.
De Gea earns ‘more than £350,000 per week’ and the Premier League club ‘did not want to activate the one-year option they held on De Gea’s contract’ as they wanted to reduce his wages.
He has now accepted ‘a lower salary but over longer terms’ but a new contract ‘may not guarantee a first-team place’ for De Gea at Man Utd next season.
Dean Henderson, who briefly overtook De Gea as number one at Man Utd in the 2020-21 season, is one candidate for replacing De Gea when he returns from his loan move to Nottingham Forest.
But former Man Utd defender Mikael Silvestre doesn’t think Henderson is ready to be number one at Old Trafford, he told bettingexpert.com: “At this point of time I still think Dean Henderson is not (ready to be) the No. 1 for United for where they want to go.
“He has to continue and still grow as a leader.
“It is really important for a goalkeeper, not just being good technically. You have to show a presence and be a big, big leader in the squad.”
On De Gea’s poor recent form, Silvestre added: “I think De Gea can bounce back from his mistakes. Every player can do that but it’s harder for a goalkeeper than for an outfield player.
“As an outfield player you will have more opportunities to bounce back but as a goalkeeper there is always a risk that you will concede a goal when the opponent has the ball.
“But I think that David De Gea has the mental resources to do it. But he needs to do it fast because it’s important for the outfield players to trust their goalkeeper and with a goalkeeper that doesn’t make that many mistakes a team will be much more confident.
“The goalkeeper is the last man standing and it needs to be certain that he is not making these kinds of mistakes. Otherwise it will give the team a bit of fragility when you have doubts about your goalkeeper.
“I think he can do it but it’s very important that he stops very quickly to have these kinds of performances.
“Man United are not on top at the moment and they are facing teams who are fighting a lot. Almost for their life, you know.
“He needs to make a statement now and come back to his best as fast as possible.”
Source:Football 365