Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag believes David de Gea has showed 'progression' with his footwork at times this season as he contemplates what to do next in his encouraging Old Trafford rebuild.
De Gea, 32, only has a month left to run on his contract - although the relevant parties are in talks - as speculation on his future mounts. However, the long-serving United goalkeeper is not the only uncertainty.
The Manchester Evening News understands £80million captain Harry Maguire is among the players who will be made available for transfer when the market reopens, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka, on the other hand, has revived his United career after it looked almost certain as though he would leave the club after making just one appearance in the opening few months of the season.
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Ten Hag was pressed on that particular trio in a wide-ranging interview with The Times before United tackle their neighbours Manchester City in the FA Cup showpiece at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
Responding to a question about modern goalkeepers, Ten Hag said: "It's not what I want [top footwork], 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. He [De Gea] had to step up. In a number of games, he showed progression."
Reflecting on Maguire's situation amid limited game-time this season, the manager continued added: "He has high competition there with Raphael Varane, who's fantastic. That describes everything [winning the Champions League five times with former club Real Madrid]. No one would be happy with this situation [not playing]. He's not as well. He trains always on best levels, with 100 per cent effort. So he handles that situation well and he's in that manner and in his captaincy he's important for the squad. Let's say I'm happy he's here and when we needed him he did his job, but it's also a decision he has to make (over whether he wants to leave)."
Addressing Wan-Bissaka's return to the fold, Ten Hag continued: "We make an effort in going in his character, we got a relationship, and from there he got motivation, got his chance, he performed, and from there on he got more belief."
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