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This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Speaking on talkSPORT, former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has slammed Manchester United's reported decision to hand David De Gea a new contract this summer.

What did he say?

Reports have suggested that the Spain international has agreed a new six-year deal with the Red Devils worth around £375k-a-week, thus making him the world's highest-paid goalkeeper.

After hearing of United's supposed decision, Jordan questioned how De Gea's underwhelming campaign last season warranted him being given a bumper new contract.

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He said: "This is a lack of football savvy, this is laziness. If you look at De Gea’s performances, he’s in decline. He made only saved 69 per cent of the shots he faced last season, which puts him in the bottom-half of the Premier League goalkeepers. He’s in an average team, sure, but there are averages teams that have goalkeepers who are performing at a better level.

"I think Woodward is being lazy and would rather say, ‘I’ll do something with other people’s money’. I’m not saying De Gea is in full decline, but what I am saying, when you look at the statistics, is where else do you get a reward for going backwards?"

Saving face

In any other season, David De Gea being made the world's highest-paid goalkeeper would have been met with universal nods of approval. The Spaniard has been the model of consistency in his time in the Premier League and has undeniably been one of the best in the world.

But last season saw him endure a disappointing campaign, that really began with Spain's poor showing at the World Cup in Russia last summer. The 28-year-old's four errors leading to goals in the top-flight made up almost half of the ten he has suffered in total in his Premier League career.

Handing him a new contract this summer feels a little like United trying to save face and restore some pride. The club are in the midst of a transfer window where Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku want out, and deals for top targets like Harry Maguire and Sean Longstaff are still some way from being completed.

Whilst describing it as simply "lazy" as Jordan suggests is a little perplexing, United's decision on De Gea's contract certainly feels a lot like a salvage effort in what has been a relatively disappointing summer thus far.