Man Utd open door for David de Gea after major INEOS change as 'return plans heat up'

Manchester United may have left the door ajar for a potential David de Gea return by parting ways with former football director John Murtough, according to reports. De Gea is gearing up for a return to the pitch this season after taking a year-long break in the wake of his United release last summer.

The curtains closed on the Spaniard’s 12-year stay at Old Trafford at the end of the 2022/23 campaign after he failed to agree a new contract with an updated, reduced salary.

De Gea – a United and Premier League icon – didn’t receive the send-off he deserved because his future wasn’t clear while the season was ongoing.

And he reportedly departed on bad terms with two key figures he held responsible for his underwhelming exit – Murtough and Erik ten Hag.

According to The Athletic, De Gea informed those close to him that he would be keen to return to United, likely on less glamorous terms, if Murtough and Ten Hag were no longer at the club.

The latter will remain manager for a third season after INEOS concluded their month-long search for potential successors by agreeing that he was their best option at this stage.

United triggered the 12-month extension in Ten Hag’s contract until 2026 rather than handing the Dutchman a new deal, suggesting he is still on trial.

But Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s group oversaw the exit of Murtough, who has since been replaced by Newcastle United’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth.

Murtough is one of several high-ranking executives to have departed Old Trafford at the start of the INEOS regime, including chief executive Richard Arnold.

Omar Berrada left Manchester City to replace Arnold, while Jason Wilcox has been appointed technical director and Christopher Vivell is United’s new director of global talent.

While Ten Hag’s somewhat surprising stay may derail any theory that the door could be open for De Gea’s return, he has proven that he can navigate past previous issues with his players.

Jadon Sancho has reignited his United career by taking part in pre-season when it seemed like he would never play for the club again after his public row with Ten Hag last term.

That said, while De Gea is set to announce his new club shortly, he is highly unlikely to return to Old Trafford even after Murtough’s exit.

The Athletic add that he is prioritising a destination that would guarantee stability for him and his family in or out of Europe.

In the United States, De Gea would reportedly prefer the West Coast, but there will also be opportunities to remain in Europe.