Manchester United goalkeeper scout addresses David de Gea situation

Manchester United goalkeeping scout Tony Coton is 'not privy' to David de Gea's contract situation but urged fans to 'watch this space' as transfer speculation intensifies.

De Gea looks set to leave United as a free agent once his contract expires later this week. Talks have been ongoing for some time over a new deal but a lack of progress in agreeing terms has only increased uncertainty.

Some figures within the club are keen to 'move on' from the 32-year-old, with a positive resolution to his future looking less likely. The Reds have been linked with a number of high-profile shot-stoppers in recent weeks as Erik ten Hag looks to find someone who can better cope with his demands in possession.

"He's [De Gea] been one of the most consistent goalkeepers around the world really, not just Europe and the Premier League," Coton told Sky Sports. "What he's done for the club - a great servant - and I don't know at this moment in time where we stand with his contract.

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"I don’t know whether he's signing a new contract, I really don't know, I'm not privy to that at the moment. We have been linked with a lot of goalkeepers. Speculation in the press, you can't hide that being at Man United.

"We get linked with a lot of players that we don't get. We get linked with players that we’re not even interested in; it just goes with the territory. We just have to watch this space to see what happens with David and where we go on the goalkeeping front."

United could be left with just two senior goalkeepers if De Gea is released later this week, and even then Dean Henderson is convinced he will rejoin Nottingham Forest permanently after a successful loan spell. That would