Uncertainty around David de Gea s future could have come to hurt Manchester United, according to former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who is relieved the player has extended his contract.
Last week, the Spain international signed a new four-year deal, with the option of a fifth year, to bring an end to speculation over his commitment to the club.
United had been faced with the prospect of losing De Gea on a free transfer in 2020 if they had not agreed to fresh terms, with Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and Real Madrid all linked with the 28-year-old.
Former United star Schmeichel thinks the extension is a major boost to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is now able to concentrate on other concerns within the squad.
Finally he signed the contract because it s been one of those situations that if it drags on too long it will actually hurt the football club, said Schmeichel. It gets to a point where you say, Either you sign the contract or you leave but you tell us because we need to move on .
The situation at Manchester United is that we know quite a few of the players in the squad have to leave for the club to progress and we need to bring more players in, different kinds of players.
I think the manager needs to know, Is David staying or is he going? Because I have to move on as a manager and we have to move on , but he signed and that s great.
He s been, I think, in the last six years unquestionably the best player we ve had, so it s nice. That box is now ticked and Ole can start looking at other areas he needs to improve in.
De Gea has played in all six of United s Premier League matches in an inconsistent start to the 2019-20 season.
He kept clean sheets in home wins against Chelsea and Leicester City but was at fault for Crystal Palace s second goal in a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford last month, while he could do nothing to prevent a 2-0 loss to West Ham last Sunday.
De Gea is likely to be rested for Wednesday s EFL Cup match at home to Rochdale but is expected to face Arsenal next Monday.
12 Since the start of the 2011-12 season, David de Gea has conceded more Premier League goals from direct free-kicks than any other goalkeeper (12). Weakness.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
