'Ajax ka player mat le aana phirse ab' - Fans react as Erik ten Hag speaks up on David de Gea's future with Manchester United

Erik Ten Hag and David de Gea (Source: Twitter)

The contract for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea expires at the end of the next month, although manager Erik ten Hag believes he intends the Spaniard to remain at the club. The 32-year-old likewise is interested in signing a new contract. If he were to write something down, it might start a goalkeeping merry-go-round. Even if David de Gea signs a new deal, Erik ten Hag has not said that he will be his top goalie next season.

If De Gea stays, it's speculated that Dean Henderson is going to be given permission to move permanently to Nottingham Forest. In the meantime, Porto's Diogo Costa and Brentford standout David Raya have also been linked with moves to Manchester United, expanding the Red Devils' pool of options for the position.

De Gea, of course, enters the new season having just completed a respectable year at Old Trafford as for the Red Devils, the Spaniard recorded 57 appearances. He won the Golden Glove for only the second time during his career thanks to his 17 clean sheets in the league. De Gea also succeeded in ending his dreadful penalty record by saving one at Old Trafford for the very first time in nine years during the Red Devils' victory over Fulham on the final day of the season.

Ten Hag’s statement regarding the GK position

Erik Ten Hag has a plethora of options when it comes to this selection, but he has already let De Gea know that he won't always be the first choice. "I will not say he’ll always be my No.1, because in a club like Manchester United there must be competition in all positions. You can’t do it with 11 players. It is impossible. You need double positions.”

The Netherlands international has given a stern message to De Gea to improve his footwork, because that is one of the basics in goalkeeping in modern football. He said, "It's not what I want , it's more what top football demands nowadays. If you observe teams, you have to be capable of playing from the back and use your keeper as a plus one. Otherwise it's simple for opponents to put you under pressure.