David de Gea is finally set to end the uncertainty over his future by signing a new deal at Manchester United.
The Spain international is expected to commit to a four-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad return from their pre-season tour to Australia and the Far East.
United are confident they have reached a breakthrough after tabling a latest offer in recent weeks, which has exceeded £350,000-a-week.
De Gea had been holding out for a deal on parity with Alexis Sanchez’ £450,000-a-week – but it looks like a compromise has now been reached.
Sources close to the 28-year-old have intimated he is happy with the latest terms and is ready to tie down the best years of his career to Old Trafford.
The deal will make De Gea the highest paid goalkeeper in the world and end talk of a move to Juventus or Paris Saint-Germain.
United had already told De Gea they had no intention of selling him this summer – even as he entered the final year of his contract.
Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward was even prepared to risk losing the keeper for nothing by allowing negotiations to continue into next season.
Solskjaer revealed the growing confidence within the club that De Gea is set to sign on during his first press conference here in Perth last week.
The Norwegian said: “David has had a summer where he’s been negotiating and we hope we’re going to get it sorted. I’m positive.
“With David I’ve said many times how lucky I am and happy we are to have him in goal.”
Protracted talks with De Gea have been ongoing for more than 18 months.
Sources close to him always maintained he had no desire to walk away from United after eight years at the club.
But concerns over his ability to realise his ambitions at United, as well as their reluctance to make him the highest paid player at the club, threw his future into doubt.
Chief negotiator Matt Judge has continued talks with De Gea’s agent Jorge Mendes throughout the summer as part of a strategic drive to tie down the futures of a host of key players.
Marcus Rashford has signed a four-year deal worth around £200,000-a-week, with Juan Mata also being handed a two-year extension.
United also want to press ahead with talks over a new deal for Paul Pogba if he can be convinced to drop his attempts to secure a move to Real Madrid.
