The long-term future of David de Gea has long been a source of consternation for Manchester United fans.
The Spaniard has been courted by Real Madrid for what seems like forever.In 2015, he famously came close to joining them on transfer deadline day, only for the deal to collapse in spectacular fashion, with the two clubs consequently blaming each other for the failure.
Since then, Madrid have always loomed over De Gea's future like a spectre. There has always been speculation over the goalkeeper, with his tremendous form and well-known desire to play for Madrid often adding substance to reports.
However, he has stayed at Old Trafford. For United, his presence between the sticks has proven invaluable, with De Gea winning the club's player of the year award three times in a row between 2014 and 2016.
His outstanding form has continued this season, a string of first-rate performances helping to cement his status as one of the foremost stoppers in the game. And it looks as though United are ready to reward him with a new contract.
According to
The Times, De Gea is prepared to commit his future to United by extending his contract, with negotiations having progressed well in recent weeks. If the 27-year-old puts pen to paper, he would reportedly earn in excess of £220,000-a-week. While that figure seems tremendously high, De Gea's consistency in recent seasons certainly warrants a lucrative contract.
In fact, considering that De Gea has been United's best player over such a prolonged period, you would think that he has a legitimate claim to being the club's highest-paid player. Considering his stellar displays, which have helped United win a Premier League title, an FA Cup, a League Cup and the Europa League, you would think that De Gea has as much leverage as anyone to demand a salary equivalent to Sanchez, whose pay packet is believed to be an astronomical £350,000-a-week (or more, depending on which news outlets you've been reading).
His current contract runs out in 18 months but United are keen to retain his services until 2021. Although Madrid are said to still be interested, Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois now seems a more likely candidate for them. They have also been linked with Gianluigi Donnarumma, AC Milan's 18-year-old keeper.
News that De Gea is willing to remain at United will come as a significant boost. The club are expected to invest heavily in the squad once again this summer but integrating a raft of new arrivals will be made easier when coincided with continuity at the back.
De Gea was in brilliant form earlier this week, producing two world-class saves in as many minutes to keep Sevilla at bay in United's Champions League last-16 tie. With the threat Sevilla posed on Wednesday night, you feel that he will have to be in similarly imperious form if United are to advance to the last eight.
