Should Manchester United Replace David De Gea At The End Of The Season?

One of the biggest conundrums Manchester United face this summer is the future of David de Gea.

With his current contract, which is nets him around £375,000 per week, expiring in the summer, the Red Devils have a major decision to make heading into next season.

Fans are split on the issue of whether to renew or move on from the Spaniard. On one hand, De Gea has produced a scrapbook of near-impossible saves that have kept Manchester United in games, season after season. But on the other hand, with the way modern goalkeeping has developed over the past few seasons, De Gea’s lack of top quality distribution and comfortability with the ball at his feet hinders him.

It is clear that Erik Ten Hag has a set style of play that will come more into force next season with the right players being signed over the summer. But it all starts with the goalkeeper and their ability to remain composed on the ball and pick the right pass.

It certainly seemed brutal when Pep Guardiola took over at Manchester City and decided Joe Hart was not of the level required, and so sold him on incredibly quickly. But since that moment, no one has questioned the thought process or actions from that decision and City have looked all the better for it.

The same scenario could happen at Old Trafford. Manchester United, at the moment, are offering a new contract but with significantly less terms – around the £250,000 per week range. Still, a sizeable amount, but over £100,000 per week less than the current deal he is on.

There are question marks over not only the sheer cost of a replacement, but whether or not they are up to the standard and would be able to acclimatise from day one. The player that most Manchester United fans want is FC Porto’s Diogo Costa.

The Portugal number one has been on a meteoric rise over the past two years and has seen his stock increase with it. There is a belief that in Costa’s new contract, there is a £65 million release clause, which is obviously at the top end of what goalkeepers have been signed for.

However, with the way football is now being played and consistently developing year after year, Manchester United cannot take any shortcuts when it comes to their goalkeeping position.

There is no doubt that De Gea brings so much to the table in terms of overall shot-stopping and big moments in crucial games, but it is hard to see how Manchester United truly develop into a title-winning team without a goalkeeper who is world-class with his feet.

With this being said, if De Gea is not in a position to reduce his terms and agree a new deal, it should be time to move on from the Spaniard and bring in a new number one for Ten Hag – no matter the price.