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Manchester United activate David de Gea one-year contract option

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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: David de Gea of Manchester United walks off after the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on November 24, 2018 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) — David de Gea has been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain (Picture: Getty)

Manchester United have triggered a clause in David de Geas Manchester United contract which will see his current deal extended by a further 12 months.

The Spain international would have been free to discuss a potential free transfer with clubs outside the Premier League as early as January, but United have now protected themselves from that scenario, according to Sky Sports.

The 28-year-old joined United over seven years ago from Atletico Madrid and established himself as one of the worlds best goalkeepers, having won his clubs player of the season award in four of the last five seasons.

United remain hopeful of tying the Spain international to a longer term deal, but talks have stalled recently with De Gea reportedly holding out of a salary in line with Uniteds top earner Alexis Sanchez, who signed a £350,000-a-week deal upon joining from Arsenal back in January.

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David de Gea helped Manchester United to an important win in midweek (Picture: Getty)

Meanwhile, with Jose Mourinhos side currently seventh in the Premier League and trailing leaders Manchester City by 14 points, De Gea is said to be considering his long-term options.

De Gea has been regularly linked with a move to Real Madrid and infamously, but for a faulty fax machine, would have returned to the Spanish capital in the summer of 2015.

Reals decision to sign Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea in the summer, however, appears to have put paid to that potential move with Paris Saint-Germain emerging as the favourites to become his next club.

United are already said to be drawing up a list of potential successors with Atletico Mardrids Jan Oblak their preferred choice.

Mourinho is desperate, however, for De Gea to sign a new long term deal and after his No.1 made a matchwinning contribution against Young Boys in midweek, he said: I know he wants to stay.

I know his agent is happy to do what the player wants and I also know that the board wants him to stay and they are working on that. So hopefully, sooner or later, they arrive at a good conclusion.

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Without Davids save, there would be no winning goal. Hes the best goalkeeper in the world and if our ambitions are to be a big club, a winning club you need the best goalkeeper in the world.

You also need some other best players [in their position] in the world, in this case we only have the best goalkeeper in the world.