have reportedly asked David de Gea not to join another club just yet despite the goalkeeper becoming a free agent at midnight when his contract expires.
The Spaniard, who moved to Old Trafford from in 2011, had agreed an extension on greatly reduced terms only for United to .
Manager has reservations about continuing with De Gea as his number one keeper, with the 32-year-old making several high-profile errors last season and also lacking the ball-playing skills the Dutch coach requires.
However, United have a limited transfer budget this summer and there are question marks over whether they can afford to sign a new goalkeeper.
Ideally, Ten Hag would like to – with the pair having worked together at Ajax – but he will cost as much as £50million.
There have also been links with Porto shot-stopper Diogo Costa and Brentford’s David Raya, but right now the goalkeeper situation at United is in a state of limbo.
According to , club officials have sensationally asked De Gea not to sign for another team even though they are looking for a replacement and could yet perform a U-turn over the Spaniard’s future.
If United cannot bring in a new goalkeeper, they are prepared to return with a fresh offer for De Gea – but it will be on an even smaller salary than the reduced terms he had already reluctantly agreed to.
are reporting that United bosses will hold face-to-face talks with De Gea next week but will have no contact in the coming days as he is marrying his long-term partner Edurne Garcia this weekend.
On Friday evening, United confirmed all the players who were returning to the club from loans, leaving on free transfers or returning to their parent clubs – such as Wout Weghorst and Marcel Sabitzer.
Reference was also made to De Gea, with the statement saying his contract ‘is due to run out but discussions remain open with the long-serving keeper’.
Tom Heaton was not included in the list of players who are leaving Old Trafford this summer, with in the veteran’s contract due to the chaos surrounding De Gea and the goalkeeper situation.
The 37-year-old had an offer from newly promoted Luton Town and was keen to join but, incredibly, he may end up being United’s No.1 when the season starts if De Gea does not renew and there are no funds to sign a new keeper.
, . , and .
