Manchester United set to offer David de Gea record salary

Manchester United are prepared to give David de Gea the largest basic pay package in English football history.

Manchester United are keen to extend goalkeeper David de Gea’s stay at Old Trafford. Picture: Getty Images

Manchester United are prepared to give David de Gea the largest basic pay package in English football history and are increasingly confident he will sign a long-term contract extension with the club.

Despite also leading processes to appoint a new permanent manager and director of football, ­United’s executive chairman, Ed Woodward, regards tying de Gea down as a priority and is pressing ahead with attempts to conclude a deal.

Reports that de Gea is demanding £350,000 ($631,000) a week to stay, only to be rebuffed, have raised eyebrows at Old Trafford given United would be likely to ­accept a wage at around that mark in recognition of the goalkeeper’s importance on the pitch.

It is thought United would consider a new five-year contract guaranteeing in excess of £90 million — the largest basic pay package the Premier League has seen, exceeding the totals guaranteed in the contracts of other top earners such as Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba.

United would see such rewards as appropriate for a keeper who can claim to be best in the world in his position and who has been club player of the year in four of his past five seasons. Given the signs are that de Gea wants to extend his eight-year stay at Old Trafford, there is a feeling that only unrealistic agent demands would threaten the deal.

Woodward also hopes to agree contract extensions for Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera and Juan Mata in the coming weeks.

After already agreeing new deals for Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Scott McTominay this season, Woodward told investors in a conference call on Friday (AEDT): “We want to finish off the final few.”

Appointing both a permanent successor to Jose Mourinho and a new director of football are still scheduled for the end of the season. Although the success of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim coach has led to a clamour to make a quick announcement on the manager situation, Woodward remains keen to take his time.

Internal as well as external candidates are under scrutiny for the director of football role, who needs to understand United’s culture. Paul Mitchell of RB Leipzig is no longer being considered but Edwin Van Der Sar, the Ajax executive, and de Gea’s predecessor in goal, is among those whose credentials are enticing.

The Times