Marcus Rashford has given green light to Man Utd over Jordan Pickford signing

With David de Gea's club future still uncertain, Manchester United are already planning for life with the Spanish goalkeeper.

De Gea, 32, is out of contract at the end of the season and talks are ongoing over a new deal for the veteran.

While United have the option to extend his contract by a further year, they are reluctant to do so and want him to reduce his £375,000-a-week salary in order to remain at Old Trafford.

De Gea has been given no assurances of his starting place next season, even if he agrees to a new deal, and United have been exploring options in the transfer market, should he leave.

United have been linked with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, Porto's Diogo Costa and Anderlecht youngster Bart Verbruggen as the negotiations with De Gea continue.

The Mirror claim United could also make an approach for Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, should De Gea leave the club this summer.

Pickford, 29, signed a new deal at Goodison Park earlier this season, committing himself to the club until 2027.

But should Everton drop out of the top flight, England international Pickford may seek to leave – with Euro 2024 now little over 12 months away.

Pickford remains England's No 1 goalkeeper but is under pressure for his place in the team, given the excellent form of Newcastle shot-stopper Nick Pope and Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale.

Rashford's support for Pickford

United striker Marcus Rashford is a big fan of Pickford, previously describing him as a "top keeper".

After Pickford was mocked by Thibaut Courtois for letting in a goal against Belgium at the World Cup in 2018, Rashford fiercely defended the Everton goalkeeper.

"I've not seen what (Courtois) said, but my side of it is that the way he performs and his body, he's adapted everything to the way he is, physically," said Rashford.

"He's got himself this far, so I don't think you can really say that about him.

"He's a top keeper and there have been plenty of top keepers who have been considered not to be quite big enough compared to other keepers - but it doesn't really hold them back."

Meanwhile, United manager Erik ten Hag says he hopes De Gea will extend his stay at Old Trafford.

"We want him to stay and we want him to extend his contract," Ten Hag said.

"He has the most clean sheets in the Premier League, so we would not be in this position without him. So he has fully my belief, no concerns, that happens but as a team you have to deal with it, you have to show character, be resilient and bounce back and this team will do."