Manchester United must not lose David de Gea to Real Madrid this summer if they want a realistic chance of catching up with Chelsea in the race for the Premier League title next season, according to former Red Devils striker Louis Saha.
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The Frenchman has highlighted the importance of a strong number one in order to go all the way in the title race, saying de Gea could be crucial for the club as they look to improve next season.
Still, United are not in a strong position to keep the Spanish international, whose exceptional form has come at a time when his contract has just a year to run and Real Madrid are on the lookout for a long-term replacement for Iker Casillas.
This could mean de Gea is more than likely to leave in a cut-price deal, but according to the Daily Star, Saha believes it could have a truly detrimental effect on his old side and their confidence next term.
“It’s huge [keeping De Gea],” he said.
“When you have a goalkeeper who is a good one, with that kind of confidence, you are under less pressure. It’s very important.
“A goalkeeper is as important as a striker in a championship winning team. Any manager will say that.
“If you have a problem with the goalkeeper, to win a championship is just impossible. That’s why it’s so important to get David De Gea to sign a new deal.”