What's happening here? From much of the current media chatter it looks as though David De Gea is being trolled out of Old Trafford. Manchester United have been linked with Asmir Begovic of Stoke and Victor Valdes of Barcelona. They have even been linked with QPR’s Julio Cesar, which is so outlandish that it might actually be true. Of course, this is the January transfer window, and so it is only natural that the odd wild rumour should fly through it. However, the volume of noise about De Gea's supposed unhappiness at Old Trafford is so great as to give cause for disquiet.

It's odd given that De Gea has barely got his feet under the table at the club, and has spent much of the season competing for a starting spot with a rival whose potential is far more limited. Anders Lindegaard is a skilled goalkeeper, but De Gea is regarded within Spain as the long-term successor to Iker Casillas in the national side. It is difficult to see why Sir Alex Ferguson has rotated the two so regularly since August.

It is also dispiriting to see how much criticism De Gea has attracted for his mistake Sunday against Tottenham Hotspur in injury time, his failure to clear resulting in a Clint Dempsey goal that cost his team two points. Gary Neville was correct to criticise that error, but there seemed to be insufficient attention paid to his performance in the rest of the game, which was very good for the most part and on occasion even outstanding.

De Gea has certainly conceded goals this season that he should not have. Then again, so has Joe Hart, and the Manchester City goalkeeper has not attracted the same level of opprobrium: his mishaps have been viewed with a proportionate amount of concern. There is an understanding with Hart that this is just what happens from time to time when you are keeping goal under pressure for one of the country’s leading teams.

Perhaps De Gea attracts more flak because, in general, he does not look the part: as James Ducker once wrote in The Times, he appears “like a school-kid who has won a competition to keep goal for Manchester United." Ducker’s words, though scathing, may have had some resonance at Old Trafford, where there apparently is worry about De Gea’s competence at dealing with high balls. Why they would be looking at Cesar, a man whose failure to claim a high ball precipitated Brazil’s exit from the 2010 World Cup, is therefore baffling. Of course, that is unfair on Cesar. It was Brazil collectively, not he alone, who failed at that tournament: there were plenty of matchwinners left on that pitch who could have got him out of jail against Sweden.

And here is the issue with De Gea. Neville pointed out in his Sky Sports analysis that Nemanja Vidic was glowering at De Gea, and that Patrice Evra was similarly displeased with the young goalkeeper’s poor handling.

It must be noted that neither Vidic, recently returned from injury, nor Evra have covered themselves in defensive glory this season. Vidic looked beyond ring-rusty against West Ham in the FA Cup, exposed twice for West Ham’s goals. Evra’s positioning early this season, most notably in the Champions League, was often hair-raising and once or twice appalling. On both occasions, they were bailed out the brilliance of their teammates, and specifically by Robin van Persie.

It should also be noted that De Gea is playing behind one of the most porous defences that an English title challenger has ever offered in combat. Manchester United have let in 30 goals in 28 games and this is due in large part to the relative lack of protection that the Spaniard has been offered. There has been much said about his failure to deal with crosses – Paul Parker noting that this is a common problem with Latin goalkeepers in the Premier League, somehow omitting to mention Carlo Cudicini as powerful contrary evidence.

This narrative is in danger of escalating and proving corrosive to his confidence. It was therefore interesting to see Javier Hernandez retweeting, in support of his friend, the following comments of Michael Owen on Twitter: “De Gea made less mistakes than most yesterday. In fact, he was brilliant throughout. I accept GK's can't make mistakes but still harsh IMO.” The fear is that De Gea will be another Gerard Pique: that is to say, a Spanish talent in whom Sir Alex lost faith, and then returned to his homeland to enjoy a world-class career at Barcelona.

If that were to happen, it would sadden many Manchester United fans. Gary Neville himself tweeted that “for the record I think De Gea can be a great GK. He is young in an unforgiving environment and will physically mature in next 2 years.” The hope must be that Ferguson gives him that time.

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