Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has made it clear to David de Gea he must change his game if he is to remain his number one goalkeeper, while urging captain Harry Maguire to make a decision on whether he wants to stay at the club. Both players face uncertain futures at Old Trafford this summer after mixed fortunes under Ten Hag and he has made his position clear on the United duo.
The Dutchman has insisted he wants De Gea to remain at the club beyond the summer as his £375,000-a-week contract enters its final month. It is understood new terms are close to being agreed with the 32-year-old, who is set to prolong his stay with United into a 13th season.
He will face a battle for his role as United’s No 1, just days after claiming the Premier League’s Golden Glove award, as Ten Hag has addressed the issue of the Spaniard’s distribution with his feet and the 53-year-old will look to sign a new goalkeeper.
And Ten Hag has reiterated the importance of De Gea adapting his game due to the modern demands of his tactics and football in general, laying down a challenge to the experienced stopper to alter his traits.
“It’s not what I want [top footwork], it’s more what top football demands nowadays,” Ten Hag told reporters. “If you observe teams, you have to be capable of playing from the back and use your keeper as a plus one.
“Otherwise it’s simple for opponents to put you under pressure. He [De Gea] had to step up. In a number of games, he showed progression.”
Ten Hag has been linked with a number of high-profile stoppers, including Brentford’s David Raya and Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel. And it remains to be seen whether De Gea will be able to win back his place once his competition arrives, given how stars such as Maguire and Fred have lost their places.
Maguire started only eight Premier League games with 27 appearances across all competitions under Ten Hag, with the former Ajax boss preferring to start Victor Lindelof in the absence of Lisandro Martinez.
The 30-year-old could be sold to make way for another centre-back this summer and Ten Hag has asked the England international to make a decision soon on where his future lies.
“He has high competition there with Raphael Varane, who’s fantastic,” Ten Hag said of Maguire.
“No-one would be happy with this situation [not playing]. He’s not as well. He trains always on best levels, with 100 per cent effort. So he handles that situation well and he’s in that manner and in his captaincy he’s important for the squad.
“Let’s say I’m happy he’s here and when we needed him he did his job, but it’s also a decision he has to make [over whether he leaves].”
