Ten Hag needs to decisively part ways with the major issue at Man United, who occupies 9% of the team’s salary expenses
Manchester United improved this season under manager Erik ten Hag, but the team’s FA Cup final defeat to rival Manchester City showed that there is still more to be done if the Red Devils hope to one day compete with Pep Guardiola’s group in the upcoming season.
After that 2-1 loss, there is a growing concern about the future of United’s goalkeeping staff because veteran David De Gea hasn’t exactly performed well after failing to stop Ilkay Gundogan’s second-half goal.
The Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst wrote that the Spaniard “needs moving on,” despite the fact that he had just won the Premier League’s Golden Glove award for keeping the most clean sheets in the league, for failing to block what appeared to be a “saveable” shot on goal.
In an effort to extend his 12-year stay at Old Trafford, there have been rumors that the 32-year-old may receive a new contract this summer. However, it is revealing because Ten Hag is reported to be giving no assurances that the £375k-per-week player will continue to be the preferred choice.
Due to his current contract’s expiration later this month, there have been suggestions that the club should end the former Atletico Madrid player’s United career. The Red Devils “do need to get rid of him either now or if they’ve got the money then obviously a year later is the maximum,” club veteran Gary Neville remarked last week.
Although it is unknown whether Ten Hag would have enough money in the budget to locate a capable replacement for the 45-cap international, Neville made the point that the former Ajax manager must avoid sticking with his current number one out of pure convenience.
Should De Gea leave this summer?
De Gea seems like a player who ought to move on to better things, and it will likely be very advantageous to move someone who, according to Caplology, represents the greatest proportion of the team’s wage outlay at 9%.
The 6’4″ stopper has received numerous criticisms over his passing issues. Paul Scholes, a three-time champion, stated that his former teammate “isn’t the best footballer” because he ended the season with a league-low average pass accuracy rate of just 68%, much lower than Ederson’s (84%), a teammate for City.
De Gea, however, is not immune from the occasional slip-up with his hands; in the Premier League in 2022–2023, he made two errors that led to goals, as his error against Manchester United’s rivals at the weekend also showed.
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In West Ham United’s defeat last month, the custodian, who was born in Madrid, is infamous for allowing Said Benrahama’s soft shot to slip past him. Conor Coady eventually tapped in from close range after being oddly penetrated at his near post during the FA Cup triumph over Everton earlier this year.
Of course, there was also the awful night in Seville during the Europa League when the towering asset, after also failing to stop Loic Bade’s pretty easy header, handed the ball to Youssef En-Nesyri in the buildup to the third goal of the match.
Luckhurst pointed out that De Gea had previously’made a howler’ against Chelsea in the same competition at the semi-final stage in 2020 with regard to the present game versus Guardiola and co.
Ten Hag now has a “big problem” with the inconsistent goalie, according to commentator Jamie Carragher. The champion must be fired by the Dutchman prior to the upcoming season.