"David de Gea is a world-class goalkeeper, probably the best in the world right now. If our ambitions are to have the best in the world, we have to keep him," Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said after the Spanish star put in another five-star performance during their hard-fought mid-week win over Switzerland's BSC Young Boys.

The 29-year-old is a rare, perhaps the only, bright spot for United this season. His importance to the Red Devils cannot be overstated, and without him, Mourinho's side could already be out of the Champions League group stage and in the relegation zone of the Premier League.

United owners, the Glazers, won't be able to resist the temptation of overhauling the squad in the summer, but the most urgent task for the club is to keep hold of De Gea, who has long been linked with a number of top European powerhouses and could be tempted to quit Old Trafford amid the current doom-and-gloom outlook.

Both the Glazers and Mourinho know all too well the Spaniard's value to the club and, at least for now, United supporters' severe anxiety over their best player's uncertain future will be largely calmed by the latest development. 

According to the BBC and several other British media outlets, United have triggered the one-year extension on De Gea's contract, which means the former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper will stay at Old Trafford until at least the end of the 2019/20 season.

De Gea's current deal was due to expire next summer and had the extension clause not been triggered, the Spain international would have been free to talk to any other clubs from January 1 and sign a pre-contract agreement.

After the extension, United will manage to avoid situations where they are vulnerable to European rivals coming in for De Gea without being able to find a reliable replacement.