Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has said that he expects David de Gea to sign a new contract "as soon as possible" as the goalkeeper is loved by everyone at the club.

The Red Devils are thought to have rebuffed numerous approaches from Real Madrid for the Spain international over the past couple of years, forcing them to turn to Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois instead.

With Los Blancos no longer in the market for a new number one, De Gea is now on the brink of agreeing a long-term deal at Old Trafford, potentially taking him past the 10-year mark in Manchester.

Mourinho has praised the 27-year-old for not creating a "war" over his future, in comments that could be perceived as another dig at Paul Pogba and agent Mino Raiola.

"David is a Manchester United player, he will sign a new contract as soon as possible, he likes it here," The Mirror quotes him as saying.

"We love him, we want him to stay. He wants to stay. I think it was a collective situation involving the player, the agent and Manchester United. The agent didn't create a war to try to achieve his objectives.

"He respected the club. He respected the player. The player was always keen to stay and happy to stay. The club understood how important he was and was always trying to give him the conditions to make him happy, so credit to all three."

Asked what De Gea is worth in today's transfer window, Mourinho responded: "Zero. Because when a player is not in the market, his value is zero. Is David the best in the world? My goalkeeper is always the best goalkeeper in the world. I said that to my goalkeeper when I was coaching Uniao Leiria, a small club in Portugal.

"My goalkeeper is always the best in the world, but you understand what I mean. I don't want to be called disrespectful or arrogant and say that Courtois is not good or Manuel Neuer is not good. There are so many."

De Gea has been named United's Player of the Year four times in total, surpassing three-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo.