Mourinho: United need De Gea and Romero to stay

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is desperate to keep both David de Gea and Sergio Romero at Old Trafford amid speculation linking the goalkeepers with moves away.

Reports continue to connect De Gea with Real Madrid, who came within minutes of signing him in 2015 – only for his deadline-day transfer not to be completed in time.

His number two Romero, meanwhile, has been linked with a switch to Boca Juniors in his homeland.

But Mourinho thinks he has the best first-choice and back-up goalkeeper in the game and will do all he can to retain both of them.

“What I can say is that I expect both to stay because I think both are equally important,” the United boss told reporters.

“I cannot have a better goalkeeper than David. I cannot have a better replacement than Sergio. I cannot have a better professional than Sergio. 

“I want them both to stay. So if there is something true in relation to Boca, I will try to stop it because I want Sergio to stay.”

Mourinho also claimed he was unaware of quotes attributed to Romero suggesting he expected De Gea to leave United at the end of the season.

Spain keeper De Gea has two and a half years still to run on his contract, but the club have the option to extend that by a further 12 months.

Argentina international Romero has a deal until 2018, with the club also holding a one-year extension opportunity.

Both men are expected to be included in the squad when United travel to play Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday.