There are growing doubts at Manchester United over David de Gea's position as the club's No.1 beyond this season.
Although manager Erik ten Hag publicly backed De Gea after his howler in the 1-0 defeat at West Ham, sources say some have reservations over extending De Gea's contract. De Gea, 32, is into his 12th season at United and has still not signed a new deal as he approaches the final month of his existing terms.
While it has been assumed that a new deal for De Gea would secure his first-choice status, it is understood some figures at United want to move on from the Spaniard.
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United are open to recruiting a goalkeeper in the summer amid uncertainty over De Gea's role and the futures of back-up 'keepers Dean Henderson and Tom Heaton.
Henderson, 26, could be sidelined until early August after undergoing surgery on a thigh problem while Heaton is also out of contract in the summer but United have the option of an additional year.
De Gea is top of the clean-sheet table in the Premier League but he has committed four errors that have directly led to goals this season and his distribution has been targeted by opponents.
"He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League," Ten Hag reiterated. "So we would not be in this position without him.
"So he has fully my belief, no concerns, that happens but as a team you have to deal with it, you have to show character, be resilient and bounce back and this team will do."
When asked if De Gea would be his No.1 for the long-term, Ten Hag did not directly answer the question: "We want him to stay and we want him to extend his contract."
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