Revealed: Man Utd's two options to replace De Gea
Suraj Radia
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:55 CDT
- 3 min read
Manchester United have already identified replacements for David de Gea as they look to continue their rebuilding under Erik ten Hag.
De Gea’s contract at Old Trafford expires at the end of the season, although United have the option to extend it for a further year, however they may look to let the 31-year-old leave regardless.
The Spaniard is among the highest earners at the club and reports have claimed that United would only be willing to keep him if he signed on reduced terms, although there are still doubts over whether De Gea is the right goalkeeper to proceed with.
READ MORE: What De Gea must do to get a new Man Utd contract
A report in The Athletic claims that Ten Hag would prefer a keeper capable of passing out from the back and United have scouted two players in particular who could solve the long-term issue.
Porto’s Diogo Costa and Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao are believed to be on United’s list of successors to De Gea and both players have been extensively watched by the club’s chief goalkeeping scout Tony Coton.
De Gea is keen to remain at United and would reportedly consider lowering his wages but even a 50% reduction would still signify him as a regular starter at the club – a prospect which Ten Hag remains unconvinced by.
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Ready-made De Gea replacement?
For United, they may not get a better opportunity to sign a long-term replacement for De Gea, with Costa in particular impressing this season and likely to attract interest from all around Europe.
The 23-year-old became the first player to save three penalties in a single Champions League campaign as well as grabbing an assist against Bayer Leverkusen with a pin-point cross field pass to help Porto qualify for the next round of the tournament.
Costa is believed to have a £51 million release clause in his contract and his profile could be boosted when he goes to the World Cup with Portugal this winter.
Simon, meanwhile, has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga with Bilbao and even keeps De Gea out of the national team setup with Spain.
The 25-year-old will have two years remaining on his contract next summer and has previously been linked with moves to Real Madrid and Barcelona, meaning United could miss out on both their targets if they do not act quickly.
While De Gea still remains one of the best shot-stoppers in the world, his age and unsuitability for Ten Hag’s play style means it might be the right time for a United legend to part ways with the club.
