Former Manchester United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele believes it would be a mistake to let David de Gea leave the club in the summer.
The Spanish shot-stopper is out of contract at the end of the campaign after 12 years in Manchester. However, MEN Sport understands Erik ten Hag is hopeful of keeping De Gea at the club beyond 2022/23.
United remain confident they can complete negotiations with De Gea before the summer. It is thought Ten Hag is wanting the 32-year-old to agree to a reduction in his weekly £375,000 wage.
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It is unclear whether De Gea would agree to this but Steele, who recommended the 'keeper to Sir Alex Ferguson, is hopeful the former Atletico Madrid man can form part of United's future. "He’s still in his prime," he explained to the Daily Mail.
"He’s still young as a goalkeeper but look at the experience. He’s not going to be far off 550 games by the end of the season, and that’s at 32 years of age.
"I wouldn’t want him to be lost to Manchester United and the Premier League. Hopefully they will get this deal sorted and he stays part of the Ten Hag era.
"It’s down to David and the club. I think it’s about time it was sorted.
"We keep hearing it’s going to be resolved but we’re in May now. His contract runs out at the end of June.
"It would be nice to have an announcement to say which way it’s going. All I can say is that I would be very saddened to lose David after the 12 years he’s given."
De Gea has played his part in keeping 15 Premier League clean sheets this season but he has been criticised for his distribution at times.
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