What David De Gea’s contract extension means for his future at Manchester United

Manchester United have have triggered the one-year extension option in David De Gea’s contract to avoid allowing him to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January which would have allowed him join them on a free transfer next summer.

United are beginning to make plans for when De Gea leaves and have identified several possible replacements, including England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, as revealed by i on Wednesday. Atletico Madrid keeper Jan Oblak is being considered, while Real Madrid’s Keylor Navas is also an option as he has fallen behind Thibaut Courtois at the La Liga club.

Read more: Manchester United target Jordan Pickford and Jan Oblak as David De Gea transfer to PSG nears

But with De Gea, 28, interested in exploring his options away from United, with Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus two clubs who would like to sign him, United have extended his deal, which was set to end in June, by another 12 months so they do not lose him without receiving a decent fee.

Analysis

By Sam Cunningham, i football correspondent

Manchester United triggering the one-year option in De Gea’s contract does little to change the landscape of making their plans for his replacement.

The move merely prevents them from losing him on a free contract next summer, so that they can charge as high a fee as possible for one of the world’s best goalkeepers. Even so, with every day that goes by their negotiating position weakens.

It is why United are scanning the market now and doing due diligence on what is the unenviable task of replacing the Spanish No 1, and looking at the quality of goalkeepers such as Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak. Not forgetting that neither Real Madrid’s Kaylor Navas or Barcelona’s Jasper Cillessen — two extremely highly rated goalkeepers — are first-choice at their respective clubs.

Mourinho desperate to keep him

Although De Gea would not have been unable to speak to other Premier League until his contract had expired, Fifa rules permit players to discuss terms with clubs outside the UK from the January before their contract finishes.

Read more: Why Jan Oblak is the perfect replacement for David De Gea at Manchester United

United manager Jose Mourinho is desperate to keep hold of the Spanish goalkeeper, but club executives are wary that they could lose him in 2020 for nothing.

At 24 years old, Pickford is seen as a goalkeeper who could establish himself as a long-term No1 at the club, although Everton will expect a significant increase on the £30million they paid Sunderland for the player last year, especially as he only signed a six-year contract in September. Oblak, 25, is contracted to Atletico Madrid until 2021 but has a release clause in his contract of around £87m.

De Gea signed for United from Atletico Madrid for £19m in 2011.