Manchester United Transfer News: David de Gea Contract Dispute Raises Exit Fears
The future of David de Gea at Manchester United is still unclear after reports suggested the player's representatives are unhappy with details of his new Old Trafford contract.
Simon Mullock of the Daily Mirror says that United have agreed a basic £200,000-a-week deal with the goalkeeper but wish to include a £50 million release clause to protect their asset.
De Gea's representatives are said to be unhappy at such a high release clause and wish the level to be set "closer to £25 million," per Mullock.
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Mullock also reports that Iker Casillas, Real Madrid's current No. 1 goalkeeper, wants one additional season with the club before moving to MLS, opening the door for De Gea to replace him in the Spanish capital. United are aware De Gea is Los Blancos' first choice to replace Casillas, and they will want a large fee to allow this to happen.
But with De Gea's current deal on its way to expiration, United's bargaining position grows ever weaker, leaving open the threat the stopper could walk on a free transfer in the near future.
De Gea is represented by super-agent Jorge Mendes, and Mendes recently hinted in a BBC interview that the player would be happy to sign a deal to stay with United.
Dan Roan of BBC Sport quoted Mendes speaking positively about De Gea's immediate future under Louis van Gaal.
"He has one year left on his contract and I think that he will stay in Manchester," Mendes said. "The player will decide, but he's happy there, at the moment."
The goalkeeper has been in sparkling form for the Red Devils in 2014-15, positioning himself as one of the elite stoppers in world football.
However, United are in transition under Van Gaal, and securing De Gea for the future is vital to the manager and club.
Despite his amazing form, De Gea has achieved just seven clean sheets in his 26 appearances in the Premier League this term, per Squawka. This statistic is more of a reflection on United's weak defence than it is on the Spaniard, who has saved the team on a regular basis.
It is still one of the better performances in English football, but with a solid back four, De Gea's stats would be improved further.
OptaJoe's Duncan Alexander argued that United are only in the Champions League positions because of De Gea and spoke about the importance of the 'keeper's performance against Liverpool earlier on in the campaign:
United have developed De Gea into one of the very best on the planet, and it will be no surprise if the player eventually heads back to his hometown.
But if Van Gaal can keep the Spain international for one or two more seasons, it will ensure United have a world-class entity in their defence while the rebuilding process continues.
De Gea will certainly want to play Champions League football next term, so United's finish in the Premier League could become the determining factor as to whether he signs a new deal at Old Trafford.
At present, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur looking strong, there is no guarantee the Red Devils will be able to jump back into Europe's top competition next year.
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