Ruthless Ten Hag turns back on senior Man Utd star, as move accelerates for one of two world class replacements

Man Utd are ‘actively seeking’ to replace a senior star who they believe handing a lucrative contract extension to was an ‘error’, per a report.

Two major contract extensions have been touted for some time at Old Trafford, with David de Gea and Marcus Rashford’s futures both coming to a head.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that Rashford is poised to accept a blockbuster proposal to become the club’s new top earner.

Rashford will reportedly pocket £375,000-a-week upon signing a long-term deal. Doing so will see him replace De Gea as the club’s highest-paid player.

De Gea currently earns £375,000-a-week also, though discussions over a new deal at Man Utd have come with the caveat his base salary would be slashed.

United opted against triggering the one-year option in the Spaniard’s contract. As such, De Gea will become a free agent on June 30.

With Dean Henderson heavily linked with joining Nottingham Forest outright, United are in the market for a quality addition between the sticks this summer.

The belief was the player brought in would serve as a high-class back-up to De Gea. However, according to a bombshell report from the Mirror, the new signing will become the new starter and De Gea will leave United after 12 years at the club.

The newspaper state United are now ‘prioritising the signing of a new first-choice goalkeeper this summer and are prepared for the departure of David de Gea’.

De Gea is a four-time Man Utd Player of the Year and kept more clean sheets in the Premier League this season (17) than any other keeper.

However, his limitations with the ball at feet were brutally exposed – most notably in the Europa League – while errors with the gloves also crept into his game.

The Mirror add United now view the £375,000-a-week wages the club agreed to pay De Gea back in 2019 was an ‘error’.

Rather than continue negotiations over a new deal, it’s stated United are now ‘actively seeking’ to replace the 32-year-old and have ‘stepped up’ their interest in landing a successor.

Two world class stars in Man Utd sights

On the subject of who United will sign to replace De Gea, the Mirror list four names. However, two of them can be immediately dismissed as viable options.

Brentford’s David Raya and Bart Verbruggen are among the quartet. However, Fabrizio Romano reported Verbuggen is on the cusp of joining Brighton, while Raya is ‘no longer thought to be an option’, per the Mirror.

That leaves the door ajar for Tottenham who have agreed personal terms with Raya. Instead, United will turn to either Andre Onana (Inter Milan) or Diogo Costa (FC Porto), per the report.

Onana, 27, led this season’s Champions League in both the clean sheets and goals prevented categories. Costa, 23, has established himself as Portugal’s No 1 through his stellar displays at club level for Porto.

Costa’s current contract contains a release clause worth €75m (approx. £65m). Onana is expected to fetch around £50m if Inter greenlight his sale this summer.

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