Manchester United should take a punt on Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy if David de Gea doesn't sign a new contract at Old Trafford.
That's according to Louis Saha, who believes the Red Devils should pursue a move for the Senegal international if De Gea leaves United at the end of the season. The Spaniard has just under six months left on his current deal at the club, although it has been reported he wants to stay at the club beyond this summer.
The 32-year-old has signalled his willingness to accept a cut to his current £375,000-a-week wages to prolong his stay at the Red Devils. United chose against activating a one-year option in De Gea's existing contract that would have kept him on the same wages for another season. Instead, the Red Devils are planning to hand him a new deal on less money despite being linked with new goalkeepers in the summer.
However, if United perform a dramatic U-Turn, former Red Devils forward Saha has urged United to sign Mendy, who is currently second-choice at Chelsea behind Kepa Arrizabalaga. Saha added it would make "perfect sense" for United to sign the goalkeeper, who has two-and-a-half years left on his deal at the club.
The Frenchman told BoyleSports : "De Gea is still right at the top level, but of course making mistakes like he did against Everton is never good. Over the years, De Gea has done tremendous performances to save the team and he deserves the time and credit for that.
"If De Gea doesn’t sign a new contract then a move for Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy would make perfect sense. He has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world the last few years and I’m not sure what happened."
De Gea is the highest earner in the United squad ahead of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, Casemiro and Anthony Martial who make up the top five. Cristiano Ronaldo was top of that list on a whopping £480k-per-week, but departed United back in November after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan.
It is yet unknown whether his new proposed deal will drop him below Sancho in the pecking order after the Telegraph reported that De Gea is expected to sign a new contract. With De Gea now into his 12th season the Red Devils following his move from Atletico Madrid in 2011, he doesn't want to leave the club anytime soon and his recent form makes it an easy decision from both the player and the club.
"I hope so," De Gea said, when asked if he was confident he would finish his career at United. "I was saying this is my club, I’ve been here many, many years and it’s a huge honour to be here and I’m so happy here. Yeah, I’m very relaxed [about the contract], just focussed on training, performing as best as I can. But, for sure, it’s going to end in a good way."
