David de Gea transfer saga takes new twist - a year after leaving Manchester United

David de Gea was open to returning to Manchester United last season, but only if head coach Erik ten Hag and director of football John Murtough were no longer at the helm .

The 33-year-old Spanish goalkeeper, who spent over a decade in the Premier League at Old Trafford after being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson, was ousted from the club following Ten Hag's first year in charge amid protracted contract negotiations.

De Gea has since been linked with several clubs and was even rumored to be returning to United to provide cover for Andre Onana during the Africa Cup of Nations. According to The Athletic , De Gea would have considered such a move, but only if Ten Hag and Murtough were no longer in power.

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It's claimed the seasoned goalkeeper confided to his close circle that he was unhappy with Ten Hag and Murtough, blaming them both for his departure. Despite spending the entire 2023/24 season as a free agent, changes did occur at Old Trafford with Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquiring a minority stake in the club, followed by Murtough's departure in April after 11 years of service in various roles.

With United finishing in eighth place under Ten Hag's management, it seemed highly likely that he would follow Murtough out the door at the end of the season. Ratcliffe and the club's top brass announced plans to conduct a thorough end of season review and there was even speculation that Ten Hag would still be replaced despite masterminding a 2-1 win over arch-rivals Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

Ultimately, though, Ten Hag was handed a reprieve by United's new football leadership team and has since seen his contract extended until the summer of 2026. With Ten Hag still in place, a return for De Gea is unlikely to materialise and the report adds he has no desire to play for any other team in the Premier League. He does not, though, plan to retire after snubbing offers from Saudi Arabia and Europe.

Liverpool.com says: It's time for De Gea to move on. He's been without a club for a year and needs to find one soon, or else he will be forced into an early retirement. He's still good enough to play at the highest level, but it's unclear who will sign him.