Manchester United counting the cost of David de Gea’s ambition as contract negotiations rumble on

Manchester United are pressing ahead with David de Gea’s contract talks amid fears the goalkeeper could leave at the end of the season.

The Spanish international is still to commit his long-term future to Old Trafford, despite months of negotiations with the club’s hierarchy.

It is understood discussions are ongoing, but De Gea’s reluctance to sign a new deal is believed to centre on his own ambitions, rather than financial incentives.

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Defeat to Manchester City on Sunday effectively ended United’s faint title hopes and emphasised just how far they have fallen behind Pep Guardiola’s champions.

De Gea has only won one Premier League title eight years at United – and despite being generally regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world, has had to watch on as major trophies have eluded him.

The 28-year-old is out of contract in the summer, but United intend to trigger a further 12-month option to give them more breathing room.

The hope was that De Gea would put pen to paper on a new five-year deal before now, with both sides believing they were close to agreement as long ago as June.

If De Gea continues to stall, United will have to seriously consider cashing in on him at the end of the season, knowing his value will drop significantly in the final 12 months of his contract.

Long-term suitors Real Madrid are no longer in the market for a world class keeper after signingThibaut Courtoisfrom Chelsea in the summer.

Juventus have emerged as a leading contender for his signature – and his outstanding performance in United’s 2-1 win in Turin last week will have earned him more admirers.

His former coach at United, Eric Steele (below), concedes De Gea may believe he has a better chance of success away from Old Trafford.

He told the Goalkeepers’ Union podcast: “If you ask David now, he is fully committed to Manchester United.

“He has got a fantastic rapport with the players, the fans, but he wants to be a winner and inevitably he might look at his pathway now and think ‘will I get that at Manchester United’ certainly at the moment they are still in the Champions League.

“But he sees other clubs getting bigger and stronger, it is becoming more competitive. And he is now 28, is coming into his prime years so it is understandable that he may be looking.

“Long may David stay in the Premier League and long may he continue, but you would understand why if he wants to win that ultimate prize. The one thing that’s missing is he wants to win that Champions League.”