Is Manchester United player worth being the Premier League’s highest-paid player?
Manchester United sit fifth in the Premier League (prior to the league being suspended due to the coronavirus) and are knocking on the door for Champions League qualification after going five games unbeaten. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team are also fighting for progression to the quarterfinals of the Europa League and have one foot in the last eight after thrashing LASK Linz in the first leg of the last 16.
Despite the improvements Manchester United have made over the course of the season, there are still holes that Solskjaer needs to address for the future. One position that is an issue that the club have had this season is goalkeeping. David De Gea has made three errors leading to goals this season which is the second-most in the division.
Manchester United player signed new deal in September
Dea Gea signed a new contract at Old Trafford in September 2019 making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League. The goalkeeper makes £375,000-a-week or £19.5 million per season. De Gea’s new deal at Old Trafford came before the emergence of Dean Henderson at Sheffield United. Henderson is on loan at Bramall Lane and had a breakout season. The Red Devils are now interested in inking Henderson to a new £100,000-a-week contract. Although Henderson is likely to sign a new contract with the club he is likely to back up De Gea next season.
Henderson’s emergence along with Sergio Romero’s solid play in goal cup fixtures begs the questions, is Manchester United player worth being the Premier League’s highest-paid player?
De Gea has conceded 30 goals in the league this season while keeping eight clean sheets. A lot of his success at Old Trafford has come thanks to the team’s improved defence. Manchester United added Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in the offseason improving the side’s defence immediately. The Goalkeeper has made 76 saves which is the 11th most in the division.
The Manchester United player is still only 29-years-old, he won’t turn 30 until next November, and due to the length of time he has been at Old Trafford, it is easy to forget that De Gea is still relatively young. De Gea joined Manchester United in 2011 from Atletico Madrid for £18.9m which was, at the time, a British goalkeeper transfer record.
De Gea has made 29 league appearances, played 2,640 minutes, and averages 0.4 clearances per match in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.com.
So, is De Gea worth the money as the highest-paid player in the Premier League?
The Manchester United player made have made three errors that have led to goals but he has helped make the team’s defence strong this term.
Henderson, on the other hand, has made 70 saves, 10 clean sheets, and one penalty save. He has also conceded 22 goals, eight fewer than De Gea. The Sheffield United shot-stopper has allowed just one goal from an error this campaign.
De Gea has certainly struggled at times. Due to the contract he signed in September, he will have plenty of opportunities play in goal next season even if Henderson returns to the club.