Manchester United face a serious battle to convince David de Gea to stay at Old Trafford beyond the end of his current contract.

United are invoking an option to extend the Spain goalkeeper’s existing deal by 12 months until the end of next season.

But talks over a new long-term contract have reached an impasse and United are now under growing threat of losing De Gea for nothing in June 2020, or being forced to cash in before then on their No 1, another unwelcome concern for a club in the throes of crisis.

United still have time to try to persuade De Gea that his long-term future will be best served at the club.

But the goalkeeper, who turns 28 next month, wants to be competing for the top domestic and European honours and United’s severe struggles have raised doubts about the team’s ability to challenge on both fronts.

With the future of manager Jose Mourinho also up in the air, De Gea is reluctant to commit what are likely to be his peak years to United at a time when there is so much uncertainty on and off the pitch.