David de Gea's bid to bring Manchester United back into talks over a new contract is being strengthened by Erik ten Hag’s reluctance to splash the cash on a new keeper.
De Gea, 32, will become a free agent next weekend - and United have told him he will have to take a significant cut on his current £375,000-a-week wages to extend his 12-year Old Trafford stay.
United’s last offer is believed to be in excess of £200,000-a-week. But the Spaniard is aware that manager Ten Hag has other priorities as he plots how to spend his £120million transfer kitty.
And his advisers feel that will strengthen their position as the clock ticks down over the coming days. Ten Hag has made signing a striker with proven pedigree a top priority - and is also targeting reinforcements in midfield and defence.
The haggling with Chelsea over Mason Mount illustrates how they are now counting every pound. United’s latest offer of £50 million plus a £5million package of add-ons has been rejected.
They started their pitch with a £40million bid that was only half of Chelsea’s valuation with Mount about to enter the final year of his contract. The London club have lowered their demands because of their own need to raise cash for FFP purposes.
But United will have to increase their bid by £65million to land the England midfielder.
Ten Hag also expects to boost his budget after making it known that he is ready to listen to offers for Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial, Fred, Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay, Anthony Elanga and Fred.
Sales could add another £100million-plus to Ten Hag’s war chest. But the Dutchman would still prefer De Gea to stay as his No 1 rather than spend a significant sum on a replacement keeper.
Nottingham Forest want to sign £25 million-rated Dean Henderson - but the England international could still return as first choice after a year spent on loan at the City Ground if De Gea departs.
Forest are already looking at alternative targets should that happen. United have been linked with Everton's Jordan Pickford and Inter Milan’s Cameroon international Andre Onana.
Onana, 27, would provide Ten Hag with the top-quality distribution that De Gea has been unable to provide. But FFP restrictions mean United aren’t armed with enough money to tick all of their manager’s boxes this summer.
The Glazer family’s protracted negotiations to sell the club have not helped their manoeuvres in the transfer market.
But after bankrolling a net spend close to £200million when the Dutchman took charge last year, meeting UEFA’s financial obligations would be an issue if they were to commit to another massive outlay without sales.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired a decade ago, they have blown a staggering £1.4billion on new players.
Even a new owner - Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Oldham-born petrochemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe are still in the running to take over - would not solve United’s cash problems.
Both Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe would have to adhere to strict rules governing owner investment.
A move for Tottenham's Harry Kane is unrealistic unless the London club perform a U-turn by dropping the fee they would demand to under the £100million barrier.
