Manchester United have bizarrely requested that David de Gea does not sign for a different club despite letting him leave as a free agent.
The Spaniard officially departed Old Trafford on Friday upon the expiry of his contract. United were initially keen to tie him down to a new deal and an agreement was found on fresh terms on reduced wages.
De Gea had put pen to paper on a new contract, only to see the Red Devils retract that offer. A new agreement has not yet been found, leading to the goalkeeper’s departure, but United are still making their demands even following his exit.
According to The Sun, the Red Devils have told De Gea not to agree to a move elsewhere. The reason behind that thinking is that they want the former Atletico Madrid man to be available should they not be able to sign a new number one stopper.
The Red Devils have already been linked with Inter Milan star Andre Onana, with reports in Italy suggesting that their first offer for his services is imminent. Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa has also been linked with making a move to Old Trafford.
However, United’s funds are expected to be tight this summer and a large chunk of their transfer budget is set to be spent on the signing of Mason Mount from Chelsea. A fee of £55m has been agreed between the two clubs - accounting for a vast chunk of the Red Devils’ budget.
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Ten Hag still wants to sign a big-name forward and even that could prove to be too expensive, meaning that another goalkeeper would also be out of reach. That could lead to United re-opening talks with De Gea and effectively signing him on a free transfer.
As it stands, the 32-year-old has not been linked with a move elsewhere and the Red Devils will certainly hope that remains the case. Meanwhile, former United defender Rio Ferdinand believes that his only hope of staying at Old Trafford is indeed if the club fail in their pursuit of a replacement.
Speaking on his Vibe with Five podcast, he said: “David must be sitting there and thinking, ‘I never dreamed that I would leave the club in this way, in this manner.’ I look at it now and how does David de Gea stay?
“The only way he stays is if United can’t get Onana or whichever goalkeeper they go for. It would be difficult for him though because he’ll be looking at the club in a different light.
“It was love before, maybe it’s business now. It’s disappointing and I hope it gets sorted out, for David and the club’s sake.”
De Gea made 58 appearances for United in all competitions last term, keeping 17 Premier League clean sheets on the way to winning his second Golden Glove.
