Manchester United Transfer News: Club Must Keep David de Gea After Strong Finish

In the second half of the campaign, David de Gea finally showcased the game-changing ability Manchester United was expecting when they acquired him from Atletico Madrid. His vast improvement should lead the club to end the transfer talk.

De Gea has been the focus of wide-ranging speculation for most of 2013 after a lackluster start to his second season at Old Trafford. Francisco Acedo of Sky Sports reports the goalkeeper isn't putting much stock into the fodder and is hoping to stay with United.

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"I'm happy in Manchester," De Gea declared while on Under-21 duty for Spain.

"It has been a very good season, and the longer it goes, the better I'm there. I have a contract and hope to be at United for many years."

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Interestingly, it seemed like all the talk about a potential move after the season motivated De Gea. He raised his form considerably over the second half of the campaign, which played a key role in United pulling away from the pack en route to the Premier League title.

The strong play wasn't a surprise. The 22-year-old Spanish youth international has always possessed the talent necessary to excel and had flashed it throughout his time with United. He simply lacked the consistency clubs need from their goalkeepers.

He finally appeared to find a comfort zone down the stretch. Seeing him play at such a high level nearly every time out showed United exactly what he's capable of over the long term.

It was also a prime example of why the Red Devils shouldn't consider moving him over the summer. Finding another keeper of the same caliber De Gea displayed in the latter stages of the campaign would be an uphill battle.

David Moyes will have enough concerns to deal with during his first summer in charge. There's no reason to move a valuable asset like De Gea and force the former Everton manager to find a replacement.

The story would have been different if the Madrid native had continued to struggle, of course. There were legitimate questions about his ability to handle the pressure that comes with being the United goalkeeper for the first season and a half at Old Trafford.

He did enough to eliminate most of those concerns, though. And since he doesn't sound eager to leave, whether it be to Barcelona or another club, United's best options is to keep him and hope he builds off the strong finish.

If United moved him, there's a good chance five years from now they would look back and wonder why the let him get away. He's just coming into his own and has plenty of productive seasons on the horizon, starting with the club's title defense.

United should end the speculation by making it clear he won't be leaving Old Trafford over the summer.