Time’s right to give De Gea a new deal
£71M. £67m. £22m.
Those aren’t the transfer fees United should have spent this summer, they are the fees paid by Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal to recruit goalkeepers.
Alisson Becker, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Bernd Leno are all making the switch to English football for more money than United spent to recruit David de Gea seven years ago.
In the post-Neymar market it is no surprise to see transfer valuations sky-rocket, but while the market inflation sparks a worrying trend for Premier League clubs, it also provides a timely reminder of the incredible asset United possess in De Gea.
It is pretty safe to say the Spaniard’s incredible development since he made the £18.9m move from Atletico Madrid has thoroughly repaid the price tag.
In 2012, he revealed his ambition at the club. “Hopefully, I will equal or even surpass the performance and contribution Edwin van der Sar made to the club,” he revealed.
Five years on and it is safe to say he is well on his way to doing so - in fact, it could be argued he already has. Not only is De Gea the finest shot-stopper in world football, who possess the ability to perpetually drag United out of precarious positions, recent fees paid by rival teams highlights how big an issue it would be to somehow replace him.
M.E.N. Sport revealed in June De Gea had agreed to stay at the club now is the perfect time to show the club mean business. Announcing a new deal for De Gea would be the perfect way to save the summer.