Breaking: David De Gea's Impending Exit Spells Trouble for Manchester United's Goalkeeper Dilemma

David de Gea's time as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper is entering the final few hours. 

As of Saturday, on July 1, the Spaniard will become a free agent.

The player has every right to question the course of events in these last few months. Even though he may not be at the peak of his career, shouldn't a player with over 450 club appearances deserve more respect? Both sides of the argument may acknowledge that the way we have reached this point, with De Gea potentially becoming a free agent, reflects the current problems within the club.

De Gea created history in February as he completed his 400th Premier League appearance for United, surpassing all non-British players for one club.

However, it is evident that allowing his contract to expire at the age of 32, despite his impressive record of 45 international caps, reflects poor planning.

At the very least, United have kicked the can down the road when it has come to addressing the goalkeeper issue, despite other areas still being unresolved.

The De Gea conundrum

De Gea has made 17 errors resulting in goals in the Premier League, making him the Spanish goalkeeper with the highest number of errors in the history of the competition. However, considering his extensive career of 540 appearances in English football since 2011, is this number considered high?

If this week marks the end of his career in English football, it will be challenging to define his 12-year tenure at Old Trafford. In the previous season, he not only won the Golden Glove but also surpassed Peter Schmeichel's clean-sheet record.

When De Gea received the award, Roy Keane - at the forefront of his detractors - told We: "United had to improve from last year, they were so bad defensively.

"They're all congratulating him enthusiastically. De Gea should be replaced promptly, as he lacks the ability to lead United to victory in lifting trophies. The notion of people applauding him for the slight improvement in United's performance from last year is absurd. After all, it is his responsibility as the goalkeeper."

Admittedly, it is accurate that the players in front of him have not consistently performed exceptionally well in the relentless pursuit of another Premier League title over the span of a decade.

Why keeping faith in De Gea could be rewarded

Defining Erik ten Hag's impact and the prevailing perception that he possesses a unique vision for United's goalkeeping department is a challenging task. It presents a perplexing dilemma.

Moreover, he bears the burden of being the goalkeeper for one of the world's largest clubs. Not only is he the highest-paid goalkeeper globally, but he also holds the title of the highest-paid Spanish footballer.

This doesn't always guarantee success, just like his impressive clean sheet record alone cannot reveal the complete picture. Nonetheless, his supporters will highlight his 12 years of dedication amid a challenging time for United.

Since 2011, he has remained a constant figure, entrusted to fill the shoes of Edwin van der Sar at the young age of 20 under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

De Gea, signed for a British record fee of approximately £18.9m, showcased his exceptional skills at Atletico Madrid. His goalkeeping coach, Diego Diaz, proclaimed in 2010 that De Gea was on the path to becoming one of the top 'keepers, even though he was still developing physically and mentally. This endorsement propelled him to excel in his role as Manchester United's first-choice goalkeeper, under the management of David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and up until now, Ten Hag.

His potential departure is also laced in confusion. It was assumed there would come a point where his future would be clarified.

United are now looking to retain him, but at significantly decreased wages. On Tuesday, in a sign of growing discontent, United fans obstructed the entrance to the club's Megastore to express their frustration with the Glazer family over the ongoing ownership controversy.

Adding to the tumult, The Athletic revealed that the club went back on their word regarding a previously agreed plan to prolong De Gea's contract.

Why Ten Hag would want a change at No 1

The club failed to sign the paperwork when the player agreed to a significant cut from his £375,000 per week wages. As a result, a new offer with an even lower salary is now challenging his determination.

Ten Hag quickly recognized that De Gea's playing style at Ajax did not align well with his own. De Gea's profile did not meet the requirements of Ten Hag's possession-oriented approach.

Teething problems arose immediately, notably with the humiliating 4-0 defeat at Brentford. This can be seen as a result of not leveraging the strengths of the players available to Ten Hag.

Blame can be assigned to both parties, and the United manager has acknowledged that there will be difficulties throughout the process of shaping United in his own image. Valuable lessons were gained when the goalkeeper was directed to execute long kicks against teams that apply immense pressure on United.

Image:

United are looking at other options including Diogo Costa

United have initiated communication with Inter Milan regarding Andre Onana, and have also considered David Raya from Brentford and Diogo Costa from Porto. Despite Ten Hag publicly supporting De Gea, the Dutchman did not assure him of the number one spot for the upcoming season, even if he had remained at the club. With Dean Henderson's return from his loan at Nottingham Forest, United might choose to promote from within.

De Gea's stellar performances have often been overshadowed by his lapses in concentration. Ten Hag desires a team that is comfortable in build-up play, which requires a goalkeeper who confidently comes off his line.

We recall how De Gea allowed Said Benrahma's shot to pass through him during the defeat at West Ham, and how he was partly responsible for all three of Sevilla's goals in the second-leg, leading to Manchester United's elimination from the Europa League.

Content: The travel of Ilkay Gundogan's second goal in United's FA Cup final loss against Manchester City drew criticism for De Gea not readjusting his feet. How frequently has he been the go-to player in crucial moments and key matches?

In a befitting manner, in what might be his last game at Old Trafford, De Gea showcased his exceptional skills when the stakes were low. With Fulham in the lead, De Gea made a crucial save on Aleksandar Mitrovic's penalty. Although it may seem inconsequential in a challenging season, it ultimately contributed to United's victory in the match.

Image:

Erik ten Hag has publicly backed De Gea on a number of occasions

Ten Hag said afterwards: "I think it shows even at that age, you can progress. It was a great save.

The performance improvement is noteworthy, both for him individually and for our team throughout the season. Good is no longer sufficient; we must strive for excellence.

The save made at a crucial juncture in the game was exceptional since being 2-0 down would have made it challenging to emerge victorious.

De Gea's aspiration is to continue competing at the pinnacle of the sport. Opting for a rewarding opportunity in Saudi Arabia would indicate that he has accepted that his prime years are over.

However, by letting his contract run out, it is possible that the player will be truly recognized in a more hospitable environment, finally emerging as one of the finest goalkeepers in the world, precisely as his goalkeeping coach Diaz predicted.

United had other fires to fight this summer. Beyond the protracted takeover, there is the toing and froing with Chelsea over Mason Mount.

Image:

Andre Onana shows good footwork for Inter Milan

There is a strong inclination to add a new striker to the team, with ongoing interest in Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund.

There is an optimistic outlook on the possibility of boosting the transfer budget through player sales, while also considering the futures of captain Maguire, Fred, Scott McTominay, and Anthony Martial.

However, if the resolution to the De Gea predicament results in a vacancy at the No 1 spot, all of that would become less important. Last season, Manchester United finished eight points above Liverpool, who came in fifth, ensuring their qualification for the Champions League. It is worth noting that with City's superior goal difference, United were actually 15 points away from the top of the Premier League table.

Image:

De Gea poses with the Carabao Cup trophy

Was De Gea the difference in adding a top-four berth to Carabao Cup success, or would the gap to City have been closer with a different goalkeeper?

He played every minute, contributing significantly - however, the impact of his presence on United's fate continues to endure.

To address all of United's various problems, finding a first-choice goalkeeper would become Ten Hag's utmost priority and sole concern.