David Moyes praises ‘fantastic’ David de Gea as Erik ten Hag gives contract update on Man Utd keeper

David de Gea has already ‘proved’ he is ‘capable’ of playing out from the back, according to Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.

The goalkeeper produced a fine display to ensure the Red Devils took all three points against West Ham United on Sunday and his late saves to deny a Kurt Zouma header and Declan Rice’s shot were outstanding. The display came just a few days after he was omitted from Spain’s 55-man squad for the World Cup, as per AS.

But De Gea responded in the perfect manner to that disappointment, amid suggestions his perceived weakness with his feet is the reason he has been left out of the Spain roster. “Everyone has his own opinion. First thing for the goalkeeper is to protect the goal and make sure you don’t concede goals,” Ten Hag said after the West Ham win, when asked about this perception of De Gea.

“In that he is magnificent. But with the feet he has capabilities as well. He has to do not only with the keeper but also the one in front and what options you give to bring passes in.

“If you are in the wrong position he doesn’t have the options to pass. But I am convinced he can do it. The games so far he proved it and he will improve in that part.”

De Gea’s contract could be set to expire this summer, although United could exercise the option to extend it by an additional year. Speaking on Sunday, Ten Hag implied the club will look to address the situation during the World Cup break.

“What we said, this issue about negotiating, we said first we are focusing on the games. When we come to an end with this block, we have the World Cup and then we have to think about it,” said the Dutchman.

“In the background we have our strategies for how to deal with it. It is clear already and I have already emphasised it several times, I am really happy with David.

“He is a great goalkeeper. He is only 31. He is fit. He can progress even more. He was already good for Man United and I think he will do that in the future as well.”

‘De Gea saved United’

Ten Hag wasn’t alone in expressing his admiration for De Gea. David Moyes, one of seven permanent managers who have coached the goalkeeper during his time at Old Trafford, claimed De Gea has been a ‘fantastic goalkeeper’.

“David de Gea’s two saves were fantastic, they really were, but he’s been a great goalkeeper for Manchester United. You don’t be Manchester United’s No.1 for that length of time if you’re not a fantastic goalkeeper,” the West Ham manager said in his post-match press conference.

“He made two brilliant saves today for them and probably saved them from that point of view, but it’s disappointing for us that we didn’t score because we put them under enough pressure. Even Jarrod [Bowen]’s at the end - he gets a good connection and I think it hits Harry Maguire’s calf and stops it going in.”