Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has presented doubts regarding the long-term future of goalkeeper David de Gea. The Spain international currently has eight months left on his existing contract, though the club have the option of an extension clause which would extend his stay for another year.
Speaking in an exclusive with Sky Sports, Mourinho admitted that he is not confident of keeping De Gea for the long run but emphasised the need to prolong his contract, given his importance to the club over the past seven-and-a-half seasons.
The Spaniard has been hugely instrumental to the United cause over the past five seasons and during this period, his efforts have been acknowledged by the faithful, who have voted him as the club’s Player of the Year on four occasions.
As such, losing a player of De Gea’s calibre would undoubtedly not go well with the supporters and it remains to be seen whether they can find a breakthrough before the turn of the year, where the club are likely to take up the extension clause available.
De Gea has managed just a single clean sheet since the current Premier League season started but none of the blame could be put on the Spaniard with the backline being the prime concern during the opening stages of the campaign.
Unlike last season, United have looked quite vulnerable at the back in both the home and away matches this term and they have already conceded 16 goals from just 10 matches – which is already more than half of the tally (28) shipped out during the entire 2017/18 league season.
Serie A holders Juventus are currently deemed to be among the front-runners to sign De Gea in the near future, though they may not pursue him on a Bosman next summer, should United trigger the extension clause present.
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