"Experienced" player who ten Hag really likes would take pay cut to sign contract with Man United

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea could sign a new contract at the club on significantly reduced terms, according to reports.

The Spanish shot-stopper’s contract expires at the end of the season, though Man Utd have the option of triggering a one-year extension clause on his current arrangement.

However, the Athletic are reporting that Man Utd could tie De Gea down to an even longer contract on significantly reduced terms.

The one condition the goalkeeper would reportedly insist upon is that he remains Man Utd’s number one.

The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell and Pol Ballus claimed: “De Gea said in the summer he wished to sign his future to United, and he would be open to reducing his wage to do so.

“The 31-year-old accepts he is very well remunerated, even after the 25 per cent cut for United failing to qualify for the Champions League, and is settled in Manchester.”

De Gea has been at Man Utd for a decade and is a firm fan favourite among the Old Trafford faithful.

While the Spaniard is undoubtedly a brilliant shot-stopper, he is limited with the ball at his feet - a skillset highly valued by ten Hag.

Nevertheless, the Man Utd boss has praised De Gea in the past, claiming that he “likes him as a person”.

In a post match press conference earlier this month the Dutchman added: "[De Gea] is an experienced player, he is one of the leaders, so we have to show that to push the team, then you have to be the example by itself.''

Naturally, the Red Devils have been linked with a series of goalkeepers across Europe, should De Gea leave on a free in the summer.

Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa is said to be of interest to Tony Coton, Man Utd’s chief goalkeeping scout, while Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simon has also been cited as a player high up on the club’s wish list.