Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea are ready to demand at least £375,000-a-week to pen a new deal at Old Trafford. According to recent reports in the English media, the Spanish goalkeeper has been linked with a move away from Manchester with Real Madrid being long-admirers of his talents and could make a move for his signature next summer.
The 27-year-old keeper has been made aware of his fellow teammate Alexis Sanchez’s mind-boggling Red Devils offer, which has made him the highest paid Premier League player ever on a staggering £505,000-a-week contract. De Gea is currently on a £210,000-a-week contract which is set to run out at the end of the next campaign, with the option of a further one-year extension.
It has been reported earlier that the Red Devils are planning to sit down to negotiate with the Spaniard to try and get him to pen a new long-term contract. De Gea was content to ask for a salary in the region of £300,000-a-week to put him on the same amount as his fellow team-mate Paul Pogba. However, the Spaniard’s head has now turned and he wants to earn another £50,000 on top of his initial demands, which will make him the second-highest paid player at Old Trafford.
A Manchester United insider recently claimed, “The financial reality has completely altered for David and his people in terms of what his next deal should be worth.
“Last year it was thought getting closer to £250,000 a week would be realistic.
“He has seen United have even deeper pockets that even they first imagined. He is ready to go to a lot more.
“The goalposts have shifted dramatically with what the likes of Sanchez, Pogba, Lukaku and Ibrahimovic are on.
“David knows his next contract could be his last big one and that Real Madrid are still hovering in the background.
“He also knows his true worth to United and that he should be paid commensurate with his standing and the rapidly changing market.”
The Spanish goalkeeper has made 30 appearances for the Red Devils this term, conceding only 21 goals and keeping 17 clean sheets. He has undoubtedly cemented his place amongst the world’s greatest goalkeepers and Jose Mourinho will do well if he can manage to secure his long-term future at the club.
Manchester United currently find themselves in second place in the Premier League table with a tally of 56 points in 26 league matches. In any other campaign, Jose Mourinho’s side would be well in contention of winning the league but the record-breaking form of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has seen them fall behind in the race for the league title. The Citizens of Manchester are leading the Premier League by a mammoth 13 points with the Red Devils desperately trying to play catch up with their ‘noisy neighbours’. It remains to be seen whether they can keep hold of De Gea as they try to bridge the gap between themselves and Manchester City in the next few years.
