Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is determined to stay at Old Trafford this summer and still plans to keep his place in the starting line-up.
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Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær has a decision to make this summer regarding his goalkeeper. De Gea is the club’s best serve but has committed some too many poor performances, but he has retained his place in the squad ahead of young Dean Henderson – who will push for an exit if asked to stay on the bench.
United have also added another goalkeeper to the mix and sign a deal to sign former Aston Villa stopper Tom Heaton on a free transfer, while veteran Lee Grant has also signed a new one-year deal to take the number of senior goalkeepers up to four.
There is obviously a lot of competition for a place in the squad now, but according to The Times, De Gea is not worried and intends to hold on and fight for his place in Solskjaer’s starting line-up.
The current attitude is probably due to the fact that Solskjaer has not yet made a real decision about his goalkeepers, and the fact that no team on the planet would be willing to match De Gea’s £ 375,000 a week salary.
The Gea & Henderson Battle Will End This Summer / RICHARD HEATHCOTE / Getty Images
Paris Saint-Germain were often named as freers, but the French side are set to sign Gianluigi Donnarumma to their own bumper contract, so they will not sign De Gea this summer.
If Solskjaer chooses to join Henderson, who has made it clear that he will be someone’s starting goalkeeper next season, De Gea’s feelings may change. He has already lost his place in the Spanish team and will not get it back on the bench.
As for the other goalkeepers in the squad, Heaton is a backup at a high level and it feels a lot like he has been brought in to be number two, behind which of the senior stoppers remains in the club.
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With Grant, he will remain part of the squad, but it is believed that the 38-year-old’s focus is slowly turning to coaching and he is expected to spend more time working with the backroom staff this season.
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