As Manchester United look to strengthen their squad, the spotlight falls on goalkeeper David De Gea, whose deficiencies have not gone unnoticed by fans, pundits and everyone else who follow his game. For one thing, the dedicated Spaniard, having spent the past 12 years at Old Trafford, lacks the ability to perform well when playing out from the back.
De Gea's contract with Manchester United ended on June 30, making him leave the club as a free agent. Discussions regarding a new contract have been ongoing for a while. Although United had the choice to extend the Spaniard's contract by an additional 12 months, they were not keen on retaining him at his current weekly wage of £375,000. In the past season, the Spaniard has made a few high-profile mistakes in his performances, threatening the Champions League ticket that the Red Devils acquired by the end of the challenging season.
Over the course of past weeks, several names have been linked for a potential move to Old Trafford. Following are five potential candidates who could fill the crucial role at Manchester United and replace De Gea.
Andre Onana
Manchester United announced Andre Onana's arrival at Old Trafford on July 20. The €60M-rated ex-Inter Milan star joined the Italian giants in the June of 2022 on a free transfer after his contract with Ajax expired. His contract with the Red Devils runs through June 2028.
“To join Manchester United is an incredible honour and I have worked hard all my life to get to this moment, overcoming many obstacles along the way. Walking out at Old Trafford to defend our goal and contribute to the team will be another amazing experience. This is the start of a new journey for me, with new teammates, and new ambitions to fight for."
The Red Devils have the chance to offer the 27-year-old the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League next season, which Chelsea, another admirer, couldn't provide. Negotiations between the clubs have been on-going for the past weeks.
Diogo Costa
Should Manchester United try to approach FC Porto to open a deal involving Diogo Costa, the club’s existing financial circumstances would be in favor of the agreement. According to the Portuguese outlet ABOLA, United's interest in the 23-year-old has significantly grown in the past few days, although the club is now attempting to negotiate a lower asking price to secure the signing of the talented Portuguese.
As a young goalkeeper, Costa has already gained significant game time at his current club, showcasing his shot-stopping abilities, command of the box, and excellent distribution skills. FC Porto is said to be demanding £64 million (€75 million) for Costa's departure, following his impressive displays for both his club and the national team.
Jordan Pickford
And last but not least, Everton’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is another potential target for Erik ten Hag’s side to recruit. As claimed by The Sun Manchester United are ‘ready to move’ for the signing, with the Englishman emerging as the freshest target for the Red Devils.
The shot-stopper for the England national team has shown his excellent abilities on many occasions. The 29-year-old’s goalkeeping skills, demonstrated through remarkable reflexes and fearless dives, have repeatedly rescued his team from conceding crucial goals. Additionally, Pickford's style of play allows him to launch accurate long passes to initiate swift counter-attacks, showcasing his ability to contribute to the team's attacking play as well.
Zion Suzuki
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United have identified 21-year-old Zion Suzuki as a potential backup goalkeeper. The Japanese shot-stopper been reached out by Ten Hag's side as of July 15 to make him a backup option at Old Trafford.
Suzuki, at just 16 years and 5 months old, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the youngest player in Urawa Reds' history to sign a professional contract. In May 2021, he made his J1 debut against Vegalta Sendai and impressively recorded three consecutive clean sheets starting from his very first match.
David Raya
Brentford’s in-demand player David Raya, is “well within his rights to explore his options”, as stated by the club’s technical director Lee Dykes. After rejecting two offers from his current team, the Spanish goalkeeper has been strongly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur in the past weeks.
According to Sky Sports, both Tottenham and Manchester United are reluctant to pay Brentford’s asking price £40m for the skilled Spaniard. Chelsea is another club that has been monitoring the 27-year-old’s situation, but as the current situation shows, Raya is more likely to replace Hugo Lloris at Tottenham.
