Jose Mourinho wants David De Gea to be handed five-year contract to keep Real Madrid at bay
Manchester United boss was shocked when asked if the one-year option on the Spaniard’s contract would be triggered
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IT has been a roller-coaster 18 months under Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford — but David De Gea’s form has never dropped.
Most would agree that the Manchester United goalkeeper is the best in the world right now.
Which is why Mourinho was shocked when asked if the one-year option on the Spaniard’s contract would be triggered.
Why would you not?
Not only that, extend it through what could still be the best years of his career.
Mourinho said: “The option? It’s obvious that we’re not going to let the option disappear.
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“A goalkeeper like he is and a club that wants to be better and better and better, we are not going to let that year option go away.”
De Gea still has next season left on his current £200,000-a-week deal before that option for a further 12 months kicks in.
DAVID DE PAYER Manchester United ready to make David de Gea highest-paid player with new deal to fight off Real Madrid interest
But Mourinho confirmed that the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is looking at a new five-year contract to keep the 27-year-old out of the hands of Real Madrid.
Mourinho said: “Mr Woodward is not on holiday — he barely has holidays.
“Of course he’s going to try to give him a contract that keeps him here for much longer than that option that of course we are going to execute.
“I just trust the board and the work they do. I don’t negotiate players, I don’t discuss numbers and contracts.
“I just say what is obvious. Anyone of you would say the same… David is to keep.”
De Gea has 14 clean sheets this season and two contenders for save of the season — his point-blank tip over from Jese in a 2-2 draw at Stoke and one with an outstretched foot to deny Joel Matip in a goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
United almost lost De Gea to Madrid in August 2015 when problems with a fax machine scuppered the deal.
But the keeper then signed a four-year deal — with that option for a further year — and has not pushed for a move since.
While De Gea is at the peak of his powers, time is finally catching up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Swede’s knee problems are behind United’s determination to land Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.
Ibra hit 28 goals before a major ligament injury cut his season short in April.
His comeback stalled over Christmas but Mourinho refuses to give up on the 36-year-old, who also played for him at Inter Milan. The Portuguese said: “I was his manager when he was 29 and there is no chance he is going to be 29 again.
“When I was managing him I was 40-something. I will be 55 next week so we cannot stop time.
“For players time means a lot. Zlatan knows that, he just needs to feel really happy with his knee, — and I think he can.”
United face managerless Stoke at Old Trafford tonight with Mourinho claiming fear has done for another top-flight manager in Mark Hughes.
The Potters axed Hughes a week ago and Mourinho said: “Everybody has investments, huge money from TV rights and so on, so everybody has good players and thinks they can get a good position in the table. But in reality at the end of the season there will be three teams below that ugly line and three will be relegated.
“Every club close to that line is scared and generally they change their manager.”
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