Thursday 13 August 2015 10:42, UK
Peter Schmeichel says David de Gea's future should have been resolved before the season began - and has supported Louis van Gaal's decision not to play him against Spurs.
De Gea was left out of Manchester United's first game of the season at Old Trafford and watched from the stands as United began their season with a 1-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday.
Van Gaal selected Sergio Romero ahead of De Gea as he felt the 24-year-old would not have been able to focus properly on the match after a summer of speculation regarding a transfer to Real Madrid.
"It should have been sorted out and hopefully it will be sorted out very soon," the former United keeper told Sky Sports News HQ.
“Its been talked about for all of this year nearly and its annoying that its been taken into the season. It should have been sorted out and I can see the manager’s point of view.
"I think he’s voiced a little bit of dissatisfaction in the last couple of weeks and I can see his point because it is his goalkeeper.
"I’m not going to interfere with his decision to play him or not play him. He’s made a decision but it just shows you very clearly that he’s not happy about it.
"I’ve got no idea (if De Gea will stay). If you’d asked me two weeks ago, four weeks ago I would have said he’s going to leave and we’re going to move on and put somebody else in goal but now I don’t know."
Ajax keeper Jasper Cillessen, who played under Van Gaal for Holland, and Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris have been touted as potential replacements for De Gea should he be sold.
Van Gaal substituted the Ajax goalkeeper for Tim Krul in the dying minutes of extra-time during Holland's win over Costa Rica at the World Cup last year because he felt the Newcastle man was better at saving penalties.
Cillessen did not respond well, kicking a water bottle as he walked off the pitch, but the tactic worked as Krul saved two spot-kicks to send Holland through to the semi-finals.
Schmeichel thinks the substitution showed Van Gaal does not have complete faith in Cillessen and he believes Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris would be a better option for United if De Gea leaves.
"Cillessen is a good goalkeeper, but (Van Gaal) took him off for the penalty shoot-out at the World Cup and that shows some kind of no trust," Schmeichel added on Talksport.
"I think he doesn't trust him 100 per cent and I wouldn't like a goalkeeper like that at Manchester United.
"If De Gea goes I would love Lloris to come to Manchester United. He has exactly the style of play and he is proven in the Premier League."
