Manchester United have had a dreadful end to their 2018-19 season, having been brushed aside by Barcelona in the Champions League, while failing to clinch a vital Champions League spot. The Red Devils, under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, started off well, but the malaise that runs deep in the United team has again resurfaced with the season coming to a close.
The Norwegian has a tough job on his hands, and one key decision he and the Manchester United board will have to make is about the future of United goalkeeper David de Gea. The Spaniard has been in woeful form lately, much like the rest of the Manchester United team, but is still regarded as one of the best in the world on account of his past exploits.
Recent reports have emerged that Manchester United may be offered Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who will not be the No. 1 at the club next season, as former Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will be between the sticks for Madrid as the No. 1, according to AS.
What should Manchester United do with de Gea?
de Gea has just one year on his contract which will expire in 2020. The Spaniard, who signed with Manchester United in 2011, has been Manchester United’s best player over the last few seasons and was touted to leave for Real Madrid a couple of seasons ago with a last-minute technical glitch scuppering the move.
With the Spanish club now with a top-quality goalkeeper in Courtois, it is unlikely that they will want to sign de Gea in the summer. Paris Saint-Germain are rumoured to be interested in the Spaniard as talks between Manchester United and de Gea over a new contract have stalled. The Spanish goalkeeper may also want to move because United will not compete in the Champions League next season, while fellow Spaniards Ander Herrera and Juan Mata, are also rumoured to leave the club at the end of their contract in the summer.
All things considered, the most sensible decision for Manchester United to make would be to sell de Gea and not lose him on a free transfer. Despite just one year being left on his contract, the player will surely be in demand even if United slap a sizeable transfer fee on him.
A single bad season is not enough to erase the fact that he was arguably considered the best keeper in Europe going into the World Cup last year. But his disillusionment at United will mean a fresh start elsewhere makes more sense.
With a summer of rebuilding on the horizon, pursuing a new keeper will not be the worst option Ed Woodward might take with rumours also surfacing of him trying to work out a deal for Jan Oblak.
Manchester United’s current No. 2, Sergio Romero, is a good back-up option for the Red Devils but does not seem to be in the contention to be a regular first-choice at a club like Manchester United. 22-year-old Dean Henderson, who was on loan at Sheffield United and helped them get promoted to the Premier League is highly-rated but hasn’t been tested on a big stage like the Premier League.