David De Gea looks likely to stay at Manchester United and sign a long-term deal, Graeme Bailey has claimed.

What's the word?

The goalkeeper is out of contract at the end of the season, although United have an option to extend it by a year.

Given his £375k-per-week wages, if the club want to keep the 32-year-old, they would ideally tie him down on a deal with a reduced salary.

If they choose to let the Spaniard go, finding a replacement may not be easy, with Porto's Diogo Costa previously linked.

Speaking on the Talking Transfers Podcast, Bailey claimed that United would rather tie him down on a new deal or even let him go for free, than activate the extension on his current contract and wages.

"I think, from Ten Hag's point of view, he's more than happy to stick with De Gea," he stated.

"If De Gea is happy to take a drop in wages he's not going to get the same deal as he has now.

"I think that he's either going to leave on a free transfer with United's blessing, or he's going to sign this multi-year contract, two or three years and then look at it again.

"A couple of years, I think that's where it's gonna go. From what I'm told they will not just take up the one-year option. De Gea doesn't want that as it stands. I don't think United do. It's either going to be a two or three-year deal or leave on free with the United completely changing direction there."

A new start at the back?

There is a strong case to be made that United need to go in a different direction when it comes to their goalkeeper, despite De Gea's immense contributions over the years.

Erik ten Hag likes his goalkeepers to be good on the ball, playing it out the back, and this is not a position of strength for De Gea, as he has been criticised for his sweeping ability before.

At 32, De Gea is not a long-term solution as a number one, and United may be better served splashing out on a younger option who could fill his role for years to come.