Ten Hag's De Gea comments send strong message on Man Utd's transfer plans

Tom Weber

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
• 3 min read

Erik ten Hag's comments on David de Gea after Manchester United's 1-0 loss to West Ham give us a clue about the Red Devils' potential summer business - and their limitations.

Uncertainty hangs over Old Trafford. The positivity and optimism of previous months have given way to despair. Knocked out of Europe in embarrassing fashion and now having lost twice on the bounce in the Premier League, Erik ten Hag's job at United has just gotten much tougher with the club at risk of dropping out of the Champions League places.

If on-pitch struggles weren't enough, there is still the unresolved ownership question that looms large, stoking the uncertainty even more. Will it be Sheikh Jassim or Sir Jim Ratcliffe and will the Glazers stay on and what will the budget look like for next season? Nobody knows, least of all Ten Hag.

READ: Rio Ferdinand makes bold Man Utd top-four prediction after West Ham defeat

All of this has thrown doubt on Manchester United's ability to spend in the summer and to land their priority targets, meaning that their Dutch coach might be stuck with some of the deadwood he wants to get rid of. Can United afford the world-class striker they so desperately need? If he will cost in excess €100 million the prospects of that look grim at the moment.

Similarly, what about the goalkeeping position? De Gea cost United against West Ham, and this was far from his first mistake this season, but they may just be stuck with the Spaniard as their number one for another year.

Can United afford a new keeper?

The 32-year-old is a modern-day club legend, but he has shown repeatedly that he is incapable of coping with the demands of Ten Hag football. A good shot-stopper, the Spaniard struggles with the ball at his feet.

Indeed, Ten Hag and company are well aware of this and they have been looking at potential options like Andre Onana and Gregor Kobel, but can they afford them without a fresh cash injection from their owners, whoever they may be come the end of the season?

READ: 'HE CAN'T KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH IT!' - Man Utd fans rage after De Gea commits howler

De Gea is out of contract in the summer and United have been negotiating over a new deal for a while. Ten Hag was pretty clear on the Red Devils' stance after the West Ham game: "We want him to stay and we want him to extend his contract."

The desire to keep an error-prone, albeit experienced, goalkeeper around is a clear sign that there may not be much money to spend in the summer, painting a more gloomy picture of United's future than initially anticipated.