David de Gea is not the biggest problem at Manchester United but he is a growing problem. His shortcomings - distribution, timidity at set-pieces and sweeping - were all exposed by Sevilla.
De Gea's attempt at playing sweeper 'keeper allowed Youssef En-Nesyri to sweep in Sevilla's third goal. For a 'keeper often accused of being rooted to his line, De Gea has stood still.
All Erik ten Hag could muster were 19 words in his defence of De Gea in his post-match press conference when asked about his performance and future at the club.
"He's the one with the most clean sheets in the Premier League, that shows he's a very capable goalkeeper."
Also read: Sevilla defeat shows Ten Hag has to get ruthless with five United players
De Gea is capable of repelling the ball and he remains one of the best at that. But at 32, he is a shattered vertebra in the United spine.
The club's chief communications officer was in Seville. The United communications department may think twice about announcing De Gea's contract renewal as the good news story to counter the bad news of their surrender in Seville.
An agreement is inevitable for a 'keeper who is no longer in demand. That in itself is telling. That United are drafting up paperwork for De Gea's new terms is in keeping with the complacency of the Ed Woodward era. One to massage the assets sheet, never mind that the asset is a weak link.
United have not triggered the one-year extension in De Gea's contract as he would secure a salary hike once they have qualified for the Champions League. That is the irony of these negotiations; United acknowledge De Gea's value has dwindled.
It is also more penny-pinching, typical of a club owned by the Glazer family. A better-run club with owners invested in more than milking the cash cow would ruthlessly cut De Gea loose.
If United are to maximise Ten Hag's coaching potential, it has to be with a new starting 'keeper. The prospect of signing Dean Henderson on loan appealed to Ten Hag while he was manager of Ajax in his final season but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's supine management has botched that succession plan.
So, in a summer where a striker is a priority, a midfielder is coveted and a centre half is likely to be required, United could do without recruiting a new goalkeeper. Too much hassle. Not enough funds.
United are still kicking the can down the road with the goalkeeper who struggles to kick the ball. You would not put it past United, infamously inept with outgoings, to have De Gea and Henderson still both on the books when the transfer window closes.
Jose Mourinho felt De Gea was fortunate to be remunerated so generously with his last contract in 2019 and his stock is lower now. Ederson and Alisson eclipsed De Gea some time ago, Thibaut Courtois is an elite matchwinner and the Milan clubs are in the Champions League semi-finals with custodians signed in the last two years.
While there is not an outstanding candidate to replace De Gea, he needs replacing. He is top of the Premier League clean sheets table but United have sieved 37 goals in 30 games - more than the 2015-16 season when De Gea came second to Petr Cech for the Golden Glove and nine more than the 2017-18 campaign he received the accolade.
Ten Hag mentioned 'character' three times during his post-match grilling on Thursday night. De Gea is United's longest-serving player and the only one with a Premier League winners' medal. Yet his kicking was at its weakest against Spanish opposition amid his exile from the national team.
United were unnerved by hostile crowds last season and it has been a recurring theme in this one. One of the strips of ticker tape landed on De Gea as he approached his goalframe at kick-off. It was not the last time he got tangled up.
De Gea will forever be remembered a United great. His 12 years were more by accident (specifically, fax machine-related) than design but his career in Manchester is worthy of its own DVD.
A debate over De Gea's greatest save could go on infinitely. Juan Mata's free-kick? Fabio Coentrao's curler? Bryan Ruiz's half-volley? Emanuele Giaccherini's header? Glenn Murray's prod? Jose Fonte's header? Sergio Aguero's header? United's lows coincided with De Gea's highs in those early post-Ferguson years.
Once a problem solver, De Gea is now a problem.
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