De Gea to "Renew or Leave" As United Scout Patricio

David de Gea, targeted by Manchester United to replace Edwin van der sar, and current Athletico Madrid number one has been told by his club that he will have two choices at the end of the season: to renew his Athletico contract, or leave for United.

The 20 year-old Spanish goalkeeper had met with Athletico club officials twice now to discuss his future, but no deal has been agreed, and with 3 years left on his deal, the Spanish club are getting agitated. The Madrid Chief Executive Angel Gil Marin said:

"We have met with him to negotiate a new deal on two occasions." 

"He has a contract with Atletico for three more seasons, so it is necessary to renew it and reasonable to revise his salary, which is well below his current performance. 

"But at the end of the season there will be two choices - to renew or to leave."

The Sky Sports journalist and compatriot of De Gea's, Guillem Balague has spoken about the decision being in De Gea's hands, but that the player is still undecided. He sees Manchester United as a great opportunity and a great leap forward of course, but is comfortable in his home country and may yet decide to commit to his boyhood club.

The latest reports are that, if Sir Alex Ferguson fails in his attempts to bring De Gea to Old Trafford, he will move for the Portuguese 23 year-old goalkeeper, Rui Patricio. The Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Europe, and it has been reported that former Sporting star Luis Nani has recommended the goalkeeper to Ferguson.

The Portuguese press stated that Ferguson sent his goalkeeping coach Eric Steele to Portugal over the week end to watch Patricio in action against FC Porto, and with a number of European clubs watching the player, Steele wasn't alone.

Patricio is not Portugal's number one choice goalkeeper, but he did win his debut against Spain, in the second half of a 4 - 0 win for Portugal on the 17th November 2010. If he joins United this summer, he will be fighting for one of the toughest number 1 spots to fill in Europe, with huge boots to fill when van der sar retires. A goalkeeper is certainly coming to United this summer, but it is up to David de Gea who that goalkeeper is: him, or United's insurance, Patricio.

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So What Is Happening With David De Gea?

It seems that some newspapers know more about transfer deals than the clubs and players involved in them. Manchester United will be buying a goalkeeper in the summer, that is a certainty, but who that goalkeeper will be is the big question. Will Sir Alex Ferguson go for experience in Manuel Neur, or will he go for the youth and promise of David de Gea? Most publications believe it to be the latter, as is evident with their headlines.

Last night the Daily Mail reported an exclusive story stating: "Atletico keeper De Gea to sign five-year contract with Manchester United as clubs agree £17.8m deal".

They went on to say: "Manchester United have agreed a £17.8million deal for Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea." That sounds pretty solid, they sound pretty certain that United have agreed a deal, and De Gea is as good as gone.

However, you would think that if a player is involved in a £17.8 million deal with one of the worlds biggest clubs, he would know something about it, wouldn't you? You would think his agent, who is set to gain a huge some of money (reportedly 8 million Euros) would have told him something about this mega deal.

Well either his agent for some reason hasn't informed his client of Manchester United's proposed deal, or a deal doesn't exist, because the Spanish goalkeeper was quite certain that he has heard nothing from anyone:

"There is nothing, it is all lies." 

"I know nothing about offers from any team, whether it is other clubs or a renewal from Atletico."

"I have given my all to this team since I have been here, and that will continue today and tomorrow, I will always fight for this team."

"I do not think the fans have any reason to be against me, we have the best fans in the world and they will support me until my final day, for that I am sure."

So, straight from the players mouth, no deal has been agreed, or if it has, which is unlikely, the player doesn't know about it.

David De Gea is a very good goalkeeper, and as has been reported on this blog before he would be, in my opinion probably the best choice for Ferguson. At only 20 years old, he has the potential to be United's number 1 goalkeeper for the next 15 or so years, and at a fee of around £20 million, that seems a good deal. A deal may not be "wrapped up" already, like some headlines report, but United's interest is clear, and in the summer transfer window, those headlines might be reported again, but next time, with some truth in them.

Video: Manchester United Target David de Gea

Manchester United will buy a goalkeeper in the summer, that much is clear. Who it will be is the question, but if we are to believe reports from Spain and other sources, United have had a bid accepted for the 20 year old Spaniard, David de Gea.

He has been nicknamed by his Athletico Madrid team mates as "van der gea" due to his resemblance to the current, and soon to retire Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der sar. He is tall, agile, commanding and holds the invaluable quality of being able to keep calm under pressure. It is these sorts of qualities that Sir Alex Ferguson desires to replace his current number 1 and avoid the repetition of the last goalkeeping 'crisis' when Peter Schmeichel left United.

The United manager would also be hopeful to avoid the situation that Arsenal have suffered over the past five years - lacking a commanding, regular, consistent goalkeeper. Arsenal have recently received good news on this front, with another United target Maarten Stekelenburg being quoted as saying: "If an offer from Arsenal arrives, I will leave."

So with David de Gea being reported as United's top target, it is time to have a look at what United fans should expect from him. 29 games this season has seen him keep 9 clean sheets while saving a total of 121 shots. Compared to van der sar, his statistics are not all to bad. The United goalkeeper has played 28, kept 12 clean sheets and made a total of 67 saves. I suggest the statistics are heavily effected by the quality of the defences, but they are interesting nevertheless. Watch highlights of De Gea below:

Sir Alex Wants Stekelenberg at Man United

Rene Meulensteen, the Manchester United first team coach has reportedly stated that the Dutch goalkeeper, Maarten Stekelenburg is top of Sir Alex Ferguson's transfer target list for the summer as they look to replace the retiring Edwin van der sar.

United have been linked to several goalkeepers including David de Gea, Manuel Neur and even Liverpool's Pepe Reina, but according to Meulensteen, Stekelenburg is the priority:

"Stekelenburg is indeed a keeper who is at the top of our wanted list,"

"We naturally talk a lot among ourselves about who should replace Van der Sar. Alex Ferguson has spoken about Stekelenburg with Edwin, and that does not seem strange to me at all."

After having so much trouble in finding a replacement for Peter Schmeichel after he left United, Ferguson is understandably eager to sign a goalkeeper similar to his most recent successful buy, van der sar.

Stekelenburg and Van der Sar both began their career at Ajax - the club where Stekelenburg currently plays with around 186 appearances. During the 2006 World Cup, Stekelenburg was the understudy to Van der Sar while in the 2010 World Cup, Stekelenburg was the number one goalkeeper, and helped his country get to the final - conceding only five goals in the process. He did unfortunately end up on the losing side.
They also both have a large frame - with Van der Sar standing at 6 foot 6 inches, while Stekelenburg stands at 6 foot five and a half.

Despite the signing of Danish keeper Anders Lindegaard, Ferguson is looking for a proven, top quality, goalkeeper with experience in big competitions such as the Champions League. He has a pool of talent to choose from, and he will certainly do his best to get his decision right as he tries to avoid a repeat of the last time their number one left.

Kuszczak Wants to Play - Or Leave United

It looks like Manchester United will definitely be looking for a new goalkeeper this summer after their number two keeper said that he will leave Old Trafford if he isn't made the first choice after van der sar retires.

United have already signed Anders Lindegaard from Norwegian club Aaeslund, and the Danish international will officially join this month. However, Sir Alex Ferguson has been linked to a number of other goalkeepers to replace Edwin van der sar in the United goal, including Maarten Stekelenburg, Manuel Neur and David de Gea, with at least one of them sure to join the Red Devils. Therefore, Tomasz Kuszczak will find it increasingly hard to gain a first team spot at all.

The Polish keeper said:

"Of course I would like regular football. I need to see what the boss wants to do, whether he wants to play me or sell me. But definitely I want to play."

"Every player has his ambitions and I have mine. I have sat on the bench for five years and I need a chance to play more than one game in two or three months. You can’t prove anything like that."

It must be frustrating to see new players coming in and taking a place that you have worked for and waited for for so long - five and a half year in Kuszczak's case, and with only 22 appearances in his time at the club, his patience is obviously wearing thin. The 28 year-old started his first game this season in a rare occasion against his former club, West Brom, but the occasional starts here and there, sometimes in the Carling Cup or F.A Cup will not be enough to persuade him to stay, especially with young Ben Amos coming through the ranks.

His career isn't looking very stable at United, and his departure would guarantee Ferguson going into the market for a new goalkeeper.