Man United ready to make David De Gea the best-paid keeper

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea. PHOTO / COURTESY

MANCHESTER: Manchester United are ready to make David De Gea the best-paid goalkeeper in the Premier League to ensure he stays at Old Trafford.

De Gea has less than 18 months left on his current contract and has yet to commit to an extension, despite United having offered him a new deal worth £120,000-a-week.

That would have put De Gea on a par with Manchester City and England No.1 Joe Hart, who saw his wages rocket when he signed a new deal with the champions last month.

But the Red Devils are understood to be willing to pay De Gea as much as £140,000-a-week to keep him out of the clutches of Real Madrid, who want the 24-year-old stopper.

That would make him the highest-paid keeper in the Premier League and prove a major coup for United, who are aware of Real's interest and desperate not to lose De Gea.

United are also said to be ready to insert a release clause of £45m in the proposed new deal for De Gea, whom they signed from Atletico Madrid for £17.8m back in 2011.

Reports from Spain claim De Gea is close to agreeing the terms of the improved offer from United, which would keep the Spaniard at Old Trafford until 2020.

United signed former Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes, 33, as back-up to De Gea, but also as insurance should they end up losing the latter to Real.