Manchester United legend Paul Scholes does not think Erik ten Hag will find it easy to replace a goalkeeper of David de Gea’s “quality”.
De Gea has been at Old Trafford since 2011 and is reportedly in talks to extend his contract – which is due to expire this summer, though there is the option to extend it by another year.
The Spanish shot-stopper is the club’s highest earner and it is believed that United are trying to negotiate an extension with a lower salary.
Many – myself included – believe Ten Hag should pursue a new goalkeeper at the end of the season.
De Gea has been very error-prone and easily beaten in recent years and particularly struggles to play with the ball at his feet.
Having a goalkeeper who has below-par distribution and cannot play out from the back is a huge weakness in the modern game and the goalkeeper position is one that the Dutch manager should address.
That might be my opinion, but it is clearly not the opinion of Ten Hag, who is reportedly happy to have De Gea as his No. 1 goalkeeper for the foreseeable future.
Recently, former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor questioned why United would be happy to keep the Spaniard – who has “rinsed them for many years with some really poor performances” – on his “ridiculous contract”.
Prior to the Red Devils’ Europa League quarter-final first leg at home to Sevilla, De Gea was asked if he wants to stay at Old Trafford beyond this season.
“I want to enjoy, I want to win trophies this season,” the 32-year-old replied. “That is the most important thing for everyone.
“Let’s see what happens. The most important thing is to be focused on the next games.”
Former Red Devils midfielder Scholes was a little confused by De Gea’s response and claimed that he will be very hard to replace if he does leave the club, even though his ball-playing ability is a “weakness”.
“That is a very vague answer, I am not too sure what to take from that,” Scholes said.
“He has been a fantastic goalkeeper for a long time. There were rumours a few years ago about going to Real Madrid and it didn’t quite happen.
“I think the only weakness is with his feet, he is not a great footballer and I think the manager wants that. But on the other hand how do you replace a goalkeeper of this quality.
“To me clean sheets are the most important thing, but modern day football, they want a goalkeeper that plays football.”
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