Manchester United set to be forced to keep David de Gea this summer due to club priorities

Manchester United may be forced to keep David de Gea for another year unless other clubs change their stances on Erik ten Hag’s targets.

David de Gea‘s Manchester United contract officially ran out on Friday, with the Spanish goalkeeper now a free agent.

Despite De Gea no longer being contracted to the club, United themselves have not ruled out re-signing the goalkeeper.

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“Discussions remain open with the long-serving keeper,” was the official statement made on Friday afternoon.

Despite the fact that, in an ideal world, De Gea and Erik ten Hag‘s club would come to an agreement on their own terms, United may instead be forced to make an agreement with the keeper due to a lack of other options.

The club have been linked to four new goalies this summer: André Onana, Diogo Costa, Justin Bijlow, and Jordan Pickford.

Pickford’s representatives have already explained that he is not looking for a move. Despite Onana being keen on a transfer, Inter Milan are said to be asking for £60 million, which is out of UNited’s budget.

Costa’s release clause is around £63m, which also rules him out for budgetary reasons, and United are expected to be told that Bijlow is not for sale by Feyenoord.

On top of this, the club are reportedly currently prioritising a move for a new striker rather than a new goalkeeper, meaning keeping De Gea may be the only viable option this summer.

Unless the position on at least one of these clubs changes or the budget frees up to sign a new goalkeeper, United’s hand may be forced into re-signing David de Gea for the 2023/24 season.