Man United set to begin talks with star player that will make him Old Trafford highest earner

Premier League giants, Manchester United, have begun talks with star goalkeeper David de Gea

- United are limning up an improved five year deal for the Spaniard

- It is believed that the new deal will keep Real Madrid off the trail of the defender

Premier League giants, Manchester United, have begun talks with star goalkeeper David de Gea over a new long-term contract for the Spaniard, that is hope to keep off Real Madrid.

The 27-year-old will be out of contract with the Red Devils at the end of next season although there is an option to extend that deal by a further 12 months.

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, is confident that the Old Trafford hierarchy will secure De Gea’s long-term future in the club.

The Old Traffoed giants have open talks with De Gea’s representatives about a fortnight ago on the option in De Gea’s existing £200,000-a-week deal and how to offer an improvement, especially if Real Madrid renew their long-standing interest in the Spaniard.

Real Madrid have previously tried to sign De Gea back in 2015, when a £29m bid that involved Keylor Navas moving to the opposite direction collapsed in the final hours of the transfer window amid much acrimony.

De Gea subsequently signed a new four-year contract with United, that included the option of an extra year, but Real have maintained their interest since.

The United manager has no intention of letting De Gea leave now and spelt out his desire to keep the goalkeeper last Friday. “It’s obvious that we’re not going to let the option [in De Gea’s contract] disappear,” said Mourinho. “A goalkeeper like he is, and obviously a club that wants to be better and better and better, we are not going to let that year option go away.

“But obviously we are going to try to give him a contract that keeps him here for much longer than that option that, of course, we are going to execute.

“I don’t discuss numbers and contracts. I just say what is obvious. Anyone of you would say the same – David is to keep.”

De Gea is represented by Jorge Mendes, who is also Mourinho’s agent, and Mendes was in Manchester on Wednesday, January 17, as he went through the final details of his client's contract with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.