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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Samuel Luckhurst

Manchester United figures want to move on from David de Gea

Manchester United players are in the dark about David de Gea's future as he approaches the final week of his contract.

It is understood some figures at the club want to "move on" from De Gea, 32, yet United remain in open dialogue over extending his contract.

Dressing room sources say United players are unsure if De Gea will stay and the FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City could still be his last appearance for the club.

United sources admit a resolution over De Gea's future is "not as positive" as it was at the start of the month.

Also read: United trying to sign Fletcher's twin sons from City

The Manchester Evening News revealed in May there is uncertainty over De Gea's No.1 status next season, which United manager Erik ten Hag confirmed in an interview on the eve of the Cup final.

United have opted against triggering the one-year extension in De Gea's contract as it would increase his salary now the club are back in the Champions League. United players were hit by 25% salary reductions after their sixth-placed finish in 2021-22.

De Gea was culpable for Ilkay Gundogan's winning goal at Wembley while City targeted his limited distribution.

When Ten Hag was pressed on De Gea's kicking at his post-match press conference, he said: "Say it like this: we are in the right direction. But there are occasions in the game, issues in the game, we have to improve, definitely, if we want to make the next step and win trophies."

United's retained and released list last week clarified that the club was not in a position to offer De Gea a new contract. The names of Under-21 striker Mateo Mejia and player-coach Tom Huddlestone were accompanied by a double asterisk to denote contract offers whereas De Gea's was not.

Although De Gea received the Golden Glove award for most clean sheets in the Premier League, his season was blighted by costly errors against Brentford, Sevilla, West Ham and City.

United extended the contracts of 'keepers Tom Heaton and Nathan Bishop last week amid uncertainty over the futures of De Gea and Dean Henderson.

Nottingham Forest informed Henderson of their intention to sign him permanently after they secured their Premier League status, with a fee of £30million touted.

Henderson, 26, played 21 times on loan at Forest last season and is under contract at United until 2025, with the option of an additional year.

The England international has had limited dialogue with Ten Hag, who held a video call with Henderson in January to gauge whether he was receptive to returning to United after Martin Dubravka's loan from Newcastle ended early.

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