Five ball-playing goalkeepers Man Utd could sign to replace David de Gea

FT Desk

• 27 Apr 2022 12:28 BST
• 4 min read

David de Gea remains one of the best shot-stoppers in the game, but with Machester United set to employ a new playing style once Erik ten Hag teams up with Ralf Rangnick, his ability to act as an 11th outfield player - or lack thereof - could harm him.

Across town, Joe Hart experienced similar uncertainty when Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in 2016, the then-England No.1 making way for first Claudio Bravo and ultimately Ederson.

Using SciSports, FootballTransfers looks at five goalkeepers who have a similar profile to the Ederson, who is generally considered to be the best keeper in the world with the ball at his feet.

Unai Simon

Unai Simon has prior experience of replacing De Gea, having been named Spain's first-choice goalkeeper at UEFA Euro 2020 ahead of the Man Utd man - a position he has not surrendered since.

Simon has a contract with Athletic Bilbao which has no release clause, and previously asserted that "as long as Athletic want me here, I'll stay."

De Gea once felt the same about Atletico Madrid though...

At 24, Simon's goalkeeping prime is arguably still to come, and with a projected fee of around €27m, he would be well within budget for the Red Devils.

Illan Meslier

Another option, and one who has already learned the language in England, is Leeds United No.1 Illan Meslier. Despite his hulking 6'4" frame, Meslier is arguably just as impressive with his feet than he is with his hands, touching the ball more than three quarters of all Premier League goalkeepers this season.

His 121 saves remain a league high, so Meslier would be an asset for Man Utd with and without the ball. If Leeds get relegated - they are currently five points from the relegation places - Meslier could be available for a cut-price fee.

Alban Lafont

Meslier and Alban Lafont are in for a generational scrap for the right to succeed Hugo Lloris as France's long-term No.1. Former France under-21 teammates, Lafont is just as good, if not better, than Meslier.

A Toulouse academy graduate, things never really worked out in Serie A with Fiorentina, but now back in his native France with Nantes, Lafont has gone from strength to strength. Still just 23, he captains the side, and led Nantes to victory over Kylian Mbappe's PSG in February.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and one who has been desperately unlucky to have Manuel Neuer ahead of him for Germany, Marc-Andre ter Stegen remains the undisputed first choice at Barcelona - for now.

With Barca needing to balance their books and still the right side of 30, they could be tempted to cash in on the former Borussia Monchengladbach man, especially with Inaki Pena set to return this summer after an impressive loan spell with Galatasary.

Alex Remiro

Alex Remiro lines up on the opposite side of the Basque derby to Simon as Real Sociedad's No.1. Whist he doesn't boast the same public profile as his rival - the 27-year-old was last capped at under-19 level in 2014 - Remiro is still a goalkeeper of quite some aplomb.

He boasts the highest clean sheet percentage in La Liga this season with 60% thanks to his 18 shut-outs, with his ability to keep possession a significant part of that equation. He may be less heralded than some, but who had heard of Peter Schmeichel before he arrived at Man Utd?