Manchester United make David de Gea contract a priority with Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw deals expected

Manchester United will prioritise David de Gea’s new contract after making significant progress on extensions for Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial.

Agreeing a long-term deal for De Gea has proved protracted despite confidence in the summer that the Spaniard was ready to commit his future to Old Trafford.

There is no sense of panic within United’s hierarchy yet, with the club planning to trigger a 12-month option that will keep him there until 2020.

Still, he is one of a trio of players – along with Shaw and Martial – who they are eager to tie down imminently.

Shaw and Martial have been offered long-term extensions – both believed to be five years, with substantial pay rises – which United expect them to accept.

De Gea’s concerns are said to be more related to his personal ambitions to challenge for major domestic and European honours.

Despite being widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in the world, he has only won one Premier League title at United and twice missed out on qualification for the Champions League in the last five years.

Real Madrid were long-term admirers, but the signing of Thibaut Courtois in the summer has closed the door on what was seen as the natural move for De Gea.

That strengthened United’s negotiating hand, but the failure to come to an agreement with their four-time player of the year for has come as a surprise.

United will need to convince him he will be given a platform to win the biggest prizes, which is a task that will be made all the more difficult after a turbulent start to the season and uncertainty over Jose Mourinho’s future.

Their perceived lack of ambition in the transfer market in the summer will not have helped either.

United’s head of head of corporate development Matt Judge has conducted a host of contract negotiations in recent weeks, with a number of players’ deals nearing expiration.

There is confidence Ander Herrera will sign an extension, with the Spaniard happy at Old Trafford and valued by Mourinho for his versatility.

Mourinho has also told executive vice chairman Ed Woodward that he wants to keep Juan Mata, with both players considered positive influences in the dressing room.