Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea's contract came to an end on Friday with no decision over whether he will remain at Old Trafford.
It is understood the framework of a contract extension that had been agreed was subsequently changed.
This has led to both sides stepping back to reflect on the situation and preferred direction.
De Gea is getting married this weekend and face-to-face talks will not resume until after this period is over.
The Spain goalkeeper, 32, has spent 12 years at the club, where he has played in 545 games.
United remain in contact with De Gea, whose response to the huge amount of speculation around his future was to post a yawning emoji on Twitter earlier this week.
Last season, the four-time United player of the year won the Premier League Golden Glove for the second time as he kept 17 clean sheets.
Both De Gea and manager Erik ten Hag spoke confidently at the end of last season about the player staying at the club.
He could still sign a contract but from Saturday, the Spaniard can sign for any other club, having been free to agree pre-contract terms with overseas suitors in January.
United have been wanting De Gea to take a substantial pay cut from the record £375,000-per-week deal he signed in 2019.
Even at a reduced level, De Gea's contract would still put him in the top range of goalkeepers and it is difficult to see him matching those terms elsewhere.
However, if he does opt to leave the club after 12 seasons, during which time he has won five major honours, a record four club player-of-the-year awards and is the last remaining player to have won a Premier League title at United, it will create a problem for Ten Hag.
It is understood tentative discussions have taken place with Inter Milan's highly-rated Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana. However, Ten Hag is operating on a limited budget and, after reaching an agreement to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea for £55m and with United also targeting a centre-forward, they would need to sell before making a move for 27-year-old Onana.
Last season, the four-time United player of the year won the Premier League Golden Glove for the second time as he kept 17 clean sheets.
Both De Gea and manager Erik ten Hag spoke confidently at the end of last season about the player staying at the club.
He could still sign a contract but from Saturday, the Spaniard can sign for any other club, having been free to agree pre-contract terms with overseas suitors in January.
United have been wanting De Gea to take a substantial pay cut from the record £375,000-per-week deal he signed in 2019.
Even at a reduced level, De Gea's contract would still put him in the top range of goalkeepers and it is difficult to see him matching those terms elsewhere.
However, if he does opt to leave the club after 12 seasons, during which time he has won five major honours, a record four club player-of-the-year awards and is the last remaining player to have won a Premier League title at United, it will create a problem for Ten Hag.
It is understood tentative discussions have taken place with Inter Milan's highly-rated Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana. However, Ten Hag is operating on a limited budget and, after reaching an agreement to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea for £55m and with United also targeting a centre-forward, they would need to sell before making a move for 27-year-old Onana.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66053069
De Gea becomes free agent
posted on 1/7/23
Why are people still taking Barry serious
posted on 1/7/23
Slap on the wrist.
posted on 1/7/23
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 11 minutes ago
My knowledge of FFP (or whatever it’s called now) is terrible. What happens if we broke the rules, do we get a fine or some kind of suspension or points deduction?
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You have to wonder sometimes if it would be worth the transfer ban.
posted on 1/7/23
I have been waiting for this day for 3 years now, and I’m just so ecstatic
posted on 1/7/23
Bye, next.
posted on 1/7/23
comment by manutd1982 (U6633)
posted 2 hours, 52 minutes ago
My knowledge of FFP (or whatever it’s called now) is terrible. What happens if we broke the rules, do we get a fine or some kind of suspension or points deduction?
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We just deny it and carry on as normal. Then delay and frustrate by getting the lawyers involved.
Then break the rules some more, followed by adding more lawyers to continually delay and frustrate, until it becomes too costly for the authorities to continue trying to punish us.
The charges eventually lead to nothing but a stern "Oh ok, we know you've done wrong but we can't afford/don't want to continue paying legal fees. So don't do it again. Even though we know you will. Consider yourself well and truly punished.'
posted on 1/7/23
comment by Jonathan Moore (U11781)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
I have been waiting for this day for 3 years now, and I’m just so ecstatic
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"Can't wait for this career to be over"
posted on 1/7/23
I have to say I think its a bit poor how we are treating him. Stringing him along in case we can't get a suitable replacement when he clearly isn't ETH's first choice. I'd rather we told him to find another club and used Hendo for a season if we can't get someone else in this summer.
posted on 1/7/23
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
I have to say I think its a bit poor how we are treating him. Stringing him along in case we can't get a suitable replacement when he clearly isn't ETH's first choice. I'd rather we told him to find another club and used Hendo for a season if we can't get someone else in this summer.
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It does seem that way, though we don't know whether there could have been some open dialogue between the two parties and for all we know, e.g. DDG may know he's leaving but is happy to wait a bit to give the club some time to progress with his replacement while he takes a break and gets married.
posted on 1/7/23
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 11 minutes ago
comment by Elvis (U7425)
posted 2 hours, 19 minutes ago
I have to say I think its a bit poor how we are treating him. Stringing him along in case we can't get a suitable replacement when he clearly isn't ETH's first choice. I'd rather we told him to find another club and used Hendo for a season if we can't get someone else in this summer.
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It does seem that way, though we don't know whether there could have been some open dialogue between the two parties and for all we know, e.g. DDG may know he's leaving but is happy to wait a bit to give the club some time to progress with his replacement while he takes a break and gets married.
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Yeh that might be the case. Hopefully he gets a good move. It is a strange situation. Not often you get to this point where the contract is up but negotiations are ongoing. Usually ends with the player leaving.