Manchester United fans were left slightly puzzled recently as it was revealed that four players would have the option of an additional year triggered on their contracts.
While the extra one-year deals for Marcus Rashford, Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw and Fred were unsurprising, there was a noticeable omission. David de Gea's contract expires at the end of the current campaign and, like the quartet mentioned, he has a one-year extension clause in his deal.
However, when he was not included in the list of contract extensions, many thought that this could spell the beginning of the end for the goalkeeper at Old Trafford. As recently as November, though, Erik ten Hag revealed his stance on De Gea's future.
When asked in a press conference about a new deal for the Spaniard, Ten Hag responded: "What we said about this issue with negotiating with the whole squad, we said, first, we will focus on this part of the season on the games. When we are coming to an end of this part, of this block, we go into a World Cup obviously and, of course, we have to think about it.
"In the background, of course, we have our strategies, how to deal with it. But it is quite clear now already and I have emphasised it several times.
"I am really happy with David, he is a great goalkeeper. He is only 31, he is fit, he can progress even more, he was already impressive for Man United and will be in the future as well."
These comments, coupled with the fact that De Gea has been Ten Hag's No.1 since he moved to the club from Ajax, suggest that the shot-stopper's time at the Theatre of Dreams is by no means coming to its conclusion just yet. At the end of the season, Dean Henderson will return from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest and it will be interesting to see if De Gea keeps his place or if the Englishman is handed a chance.