REVERSE GEA
Despite Ten Hag publicly backing his keeper there are now private doubts about David De Howler’s United future
DAVID DE GEA’S latest howler has cast serious doubt over his Manchester United future and his chances of securing a new deal.
While United boss Erik ten Hag publicly backed De Gea after the goalkeeper’s blunder (above) gifted West Ham a 1-0 win on Sunday, senior figures at the club have reservations about the Spaniard.
After 12 years, 540 appearances, including a club record 188 clean sheets, beating Peter Schmeichel’s record, De Gea’s place in United’s rich history is assured.
But having made four mistakes that have led directly to goals this season, including Sunday’s gaffe which has jeopardised United’s topfour hopes, De Gea’s No.1 status is under real threat. While United’s manager and players closed ranks, refusing to blame De Gea, the outside world was not so forgiving, with Match of the Day host Gary Lineker branding him ‘ David De Howler’.
The West Ham error was preceded by similarly costly aberrations against Brighton and Sevilla this season, the latter costing United the chance of a place in the Europa League semi-finals.
De Gea is out of contract this summer and United are in talks with him about a new deal – but only if he is willing to take a major reduction on his current £375,000-a-week salary.
United want De Gea to accept a new contract of around £200,000-a-week but, after his latest lapse, some within the club are questioning the wisdom of extending his deal, even on reduced terms.
Ten Hag is known to want a keeper who is capable of playing the ball out from the back with his feet, which De Gea is simply not equipped to do, which is why the 32-year-old was ditched by Spain.
Ten Hag is aware of how Manchester City and Liverpool were transformed by Ederson and Alisson, and knows he needs to make a similar signing if United are to challenge for the title again.
Potential replacements for De Gea include Brentford’s David Raya and Porto’s Diogo Costa, who recently established himself as Portugal’s first-choice keeper.
De Gea has only kept his United place because of the lack of a back-up keeper of sufficient quality, with Tom Heaton and Jack Butland Ten Hag’s only other options.
Dean Henderson, currently out after thigh surgery, went on a season-long loan to Nottingham Forest, so De Gea has survived by virtue of the fact Ten Hag does not have the personnel to ditch him. In fairness to De Gea, he remains capable of making world- class saves, which he has showcased this season, but the high- profile mistakes, his inability to command his area and poor footwork have made him a liability.
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand suggested De Gea’s dodgy footwork makes him unsuitable for Ten Hag’s vision of playing out from the back, as is the philosophy in the modern game.
“The question mark about him I think is whether he’s good enough with his feet to play the Erik ten Hag way,” he said after the defeat at West Ham.
“In terms of shot-stopping, he’s made a mistake – but that’s not the area I question him. Is he a good enough footballer to play for Manchester United?
“The only person who can answer that is Erik ten Hag and we’ll know at the end of this season.”