I WANT THE SAME PAY AS SANCHEZ
De Gea may stay...if he nets 5-year, £350k deal
DAVID DE GEA is open to staying at Manchester United if the club offer him a five-year contract worth around £350,000 a week to match top earner Alexis Sanchez.
De Gea enhanced his reputation as the best goalkeeper in the world with a stunning save in United’s Champions League home win over Young Boys on Tuesday.
But negotiations over a new deal have stalled, leading to speculation that the 28-year-old Spain No1 could leave for Juventus or Paris Saint-Germain.
It is understood that De Gea is keeping his options open and United have not given up hope of persuading him to sign another long-term contract.
De Gea’s deal runs out next summer and he can speak to foreign clubs from January 1. However, United will trigger an automatic 12-month extension next month if they cannot agree terms with his representatives.
Even then, the club run the risk of losing De Gea for nothing in 2020 and may be forced to sell at the end of this season to secure a transfer fee in the region of £75million.
De Gea’s camp have rejected United’s offer of £275,000 a week and want parity with the club’s top earner Sanchez, who is paid £350,000 plus substantial bonuses.
De Gea’s representatives are aware United gave Luke Shaw a big pay rise when he signed a £180,000a-week contract last month, and also agreed to midfielder Marouane Fellaini’s demands in the summer. As well as improved personal terms, De Gea wants assurances over United’s plans before committing himself to a new deal. He believes he is the No1 goalkeeper in the world and wants to play for a club that shares his ambitions. Jose Mourinho’s side are seventh in the Premier League, 14 points behind leaders Manchester City, and have been heavily criticised for their performances. De Gea (below) has won only four major trophies since signing from Atletico Madrid for £18.9m in 2011, joining a club that had reached the Champions League final three times in four years. Mourinho, who shares agent Jorge Mendes with De Gea, has backed the player to sign a new contract. ‘We have the best goalkeeper in the world and I know he wants to stay,’ said Mourinho. ‘I know his agent is happy to do what the player wants and I also know the board want him to stay. They are working on that so hopefully, sooner or later, they reach a conclusion.’
MANCHESTER UNITED’s suspect form has given even the Premier League’s struggling teams confidence of picking up points, with Matt Targett insisting Southampton will go into Saturday’s meeting at St Mary’s carrying strong belief.
Southampton have not won since September 1 — a run stretching to nine games — but defender Targett has studied United’s matches and thinks Mark Hughes can oversee a crucial victory to ease the pressure on his own position.
‘The fear factor has definitely gone,’ said Targett. ‘You can see how United have played recently. They have still got unbelievable talent but defensively I think they have problems.
‘It is a big game. They are struggling. It is not like the old Manchester United. We can get at them and hopefully we can start turning things around.
‘Any home game, you have to be positive. We haven’t done that enough this season.
‘It will be a good chance to start on Saturday. It would do us the world of good and get the fans back on our side.’