David de Gea believes in obligation to agree new Manchester United deal with Louis van Gaal

David de Gea's transfer soap opera may have taken a new, unexpected twist. Reports from Spain suggest that the Spanish international and Manchester United keeper believes he is in obligation to renew his contract at the English club following the collapse of his transfer deal to Real Madrid on the Spanish deadline day (31 August 2015) after the paperwork did not arrive at La Liga headquarters on time. Spanish newspaper AS has claimed that his agent, Jorge Mendes, has already held talks with Old Trafford officials regarding a new deal, as De Gea believes Louis van Gall will freeze him out unless he agrees to extend his contract.

The Dutch boss has left the Spaniard out of his squad for the first four matches of the Premier League campaign as he believed the keeper was not mentally ready to play due to the uncertainty over his future. Following the revelation that the Spanish transfer window had been missed, the club issued a statement (Tuesday 1 September 2015) saying that they are "delighted that its fan-favourite double Player of the Year remains" at Old Trafford. This was followed with news that De Gea, rather than out-of-favour-Victor Valdes, would be in the club's Champions League squad for the upcoming European campaign.

AS, however, has suggested that this doesn't mean that van Gaal will hand him the chance to regain his number-one role ahead of Sergio Romero in the coming games, but the opposite. The Spanish publication said: "De Gea knows that he will only return to play if he renews – and also that his only chance of making the Spain squad for Euro 2016 is if he is playing on a regular basis." Nevertheless, Spain boss Vicente del Bosque admitted earlier this week that it will be very difficult for him to retain his place in the national squad if he remains frozen out of the United starting XI this season.

The Daily Mirror reports that the Premier League giants are indeed ready to take advantage of the situation by making one last attempt to persuade him to stay at Old Trafford beyond the end of his contract in the summer of 2016. The publication claims that United will make a lucrative offer to the player to renew his contract in October after he already rejected one of around £200,000 a week last season.

AS also claimed that De Gea's agent had already held meetings with United executives to find a solution regarding the keeper's uncertain situation. It is understood that the Spaniard is still keen on making the move to Real Madrid next summer, but if United manage to tie him with a new contract, Los Blancos will be unable to secure his services as a free agent – and will again have to negotiate a fee with the Premier League giants.