Solskjaer pins hopes on De Gea
RUMOURS: SPECULATION HE WILL REMAIN AT UNITED
Today Red Devils play old rivals Leeds on their preseason tour in Australia.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said yesterday he was optimistic that goalkeeper David de Gea would sign a new deal to remain at Old Trafford as Manchester United prepared to face old rivals Leeds in Perth.
United’s preseason tour of Australia has been overshadowed by speculation over the futures of several stars, including De Gea who is in the last year of his contract and has been linked with French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
The Spaniard is reportedly close to signing a new five-year deal with United, worth in excess of £350 000 (R6.04 million) a week that would make him the highest-paid goalkeeper in the world.
De Gea was rested from United’s preseason opener against Perth Glory on Saturday last week but will line up against Leeds today to wrap up the Red Devils’ 10day visit to the Australia city.
“He’ll play and hopefully we can agree [on a new deal] with David,” Solskjaer said. “That’ll be up to David to announce when that happens, if and when.”
He refused to be drawn on whether Leicester City and England centre-back Harry Maguire was on his way to Old Trafford.
“There’s been loads of speculation but I can’t really say anything,” Solskjaer said. “There’s a limit of players and whoever performs will be part of the team and whoever doesn’t, they will have to fight to get back in.”
After an unconvincing 2-0 victory
over a depleted Perth, United will be hoping for a better performance Leeds.
Rivalry has simmered since Leeds’ relegation from the English Premier League in 2004 but hostilities between the passionate fan bases are still evident, with extra security measures being put in place at Perth Stadium.
Solskjaer said: “Of course you want to have games against the biggest clubs. It’s a great occasion for both sets of supporters and the players because there were great games [in the past].”
Romelu Lukaku, who is reportedly looking to secure a move to Inter Milan, is set to play his first preseason match after recovering from a “niggle”. However, Luke Shaw is likely to miss out after suffering a hamstring injury in the match against Perth.
United next play against Inter Milan in Singapore on July 20 and Tottenham Hotspur in Shanghai on July 25, while Leeds head to Sydney to face Western Sydney Wanderers. –