Many Manchester United players have expiring contracts next summer, including David de Gea and Marcus Rashford, but manager Erik ten Hag is not in a rush to start renewal negotiations just yet.
While the contracts of De Gea, Rashford, Fred, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, Cristiano Ronaldo, Axel Tuanzebe, Phil Jones, and Tom Heaton expire in June with an option to renew in 2023, Ten Hag prioritises team success over individual success.
The Red Devils presently have 16 points, which puts them in fifth position in the Premier League, 11 points behind league leaders Arsenal and three points behind fourth-place Chelsea.
‘In this moment we only think about performing,’ he said. ‘We have a lot of games to go, so I don’t want to get that interfered by talks.
‘We have to focus on football, on performances, not on negotiating, that’s what we are doing now.’
De Gea has been United’s first-choice goalkeeper since joining the club from Atletico Madrid in 2011. The Spaniard made his 500th appearance for the club in Sunday’s goalless draw with Newcastle – becoming just the 11th player in their history to reach this landmark.
Speaking specifically about the 31-year-old, Ten Hag said: ‘We didn’t make a decision on him but what I can say is that I am really happy with David de Gea as a keeper.
‘His first two performances of the season were not his best but after you see he brings us a lot for the defence department, gives stability and as a person I like him – I can cooperate with him really well. But first we go to the winter and then we will talk about how to deal with this.’
Asked if expiring contracts can act as an incentive for players, the Dutchman dismissed that as a notion.
‘That is something for the head and some players get motivated when you play for a contract.
‘But it is not the way why we handle it like this. We want to restore Man United, we want to develop the squad, develop the team and bring everything to a better level.
‘We work on that way of play, also on the culture and we need, of course, quality players who are highly motivated.
‘Such players we are looking for and luckily we have them in the squad, so I am quite happy with the squad. The way they work, the motivation they all have and I think the cooperation is quite good.’
Source: Mail Sports
