Alexis Sanchez’s arrival at Old Trafford is already having ramifications for the Red Devils, reports The Sun.
According to the newspaper David de Gea has seen that the former Arsenal frontman is now plying his trade with Manchester United in return for £505,000-a-week, and that’s prompted him “to demand at least £375,000-a-week to sign a new contract”.
The Spanish goalkeeper has been stalked by Real Madrid for the past few seasons, and rumours continue to circulate that the struggling La Liga outfit will make a concerted bid to prise him from Old Trafford in the summer.
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United are desperate to retain De Gea and that’s put the Spanish gloveman in a strong bargaining position. The Sun says that the 27-year-old’s current £210,000-a-week contract expires at the end of next season and United are now “planning to sit down with De Gea to get him to sign a new long-term deal”.
Before Sanchez strolled into the Old Trafford dressing room, De Gea was “happy” to settle for a modest £300,000-a-week - the same as Paul Pogba’s wage - but he’s since reassessed his position.
Apparently De Gea wants £375,000-a-week and a source told The Sun: “The financial reality has completely altered for David and his people in terms of what his next deal should be worth… he has seen United have even deeper pockets than even they first imagined. He is ready to go to a lot more.”
The source added that “the goalposts have shifted dramatically” since the arrival of Sanchez, a turn of phrase that will only further muddy the Old Trafford waters.
Was the source speaking metaphorically or has Jose Mourinho decided to move the goalposts to the halfway line in a last desperate bid to close the gap on Manchester City at the top of the table?
Either way, United are believed to be keen to tie down De Gea to a new contract before he disappears off to the World Cup in May, and it’s expected that they will grant his wish for a weekly wage of £375,000.
