Manchester United are still hopeful of reaching an agreement with David De Gea over a new long-term contract that could see him earn £350,000-a-week, but there are concerns agent demands are driving up the price of the deal, sources have told ESPN FC.
United are prepared to recognise De Gea’s status as one of the best goalkeepers in the world by rewarding the Spain international with a new five-year contract that would make him one of the highest paid players at Old Trafford.
The club believe they can meet the 28-year-old’s salary expectations but there is frustration that representatives may be pricing their client out of reach. De Gea has 18 months to run on his contract after United triggered a one-year extension option in November that will keep him at the club until 2020.
United have agreed new contracts with Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Scott McTominay this season and, although negotiations with De Gea have been ongoing for more than a year, progress has been slow.
United are willing to offer De Gea, who joined from Atletico Madrid in 2011, a wage package of £350,000-a-week — worth more than £90 million over five years — but so far terms have not been agreed.
If an agreement can be reached it would make De Gea one of the United’s top earners alongside Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba.
De Gea, who saw a transfer to Real Madrid collapse in 2015 and has been linked with moves to Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, is closing in on 350 appearances for the club as he approaches eight years in England.
He has been named United’s player of the year in four of the last five seasons and has won the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Europa League as well as the title in 2013.