Its perfectly logical actually, although it says a great deal about how ridiculous football economics have become.

United could get at least £ 60m from PSG now, who are looking to sign de Gea now. Next year when his contract expires they would get nothing.

Conversely, next year, de Gea as a free agent could negotiate a much better deal for himself as he is effectively joining PSG for no transfer fee. This negotiated deal would be way better than he could get joining now as PSG would be paying a transfer fee.

So United get a healthy fee if he leaves now, and they bung de Gea a big chunk of that fee to compensate for the fact that he will be on a worse contract by moving now than he would be if he moved next year.

In effect United have resigned themselves to him leaving and are finding the best way to get a few quid out of his departure