With David De Gea’s contract expiring and Erik ten Hag not sold on the Spaniard, we’ve looked at the contenders to replace him as Manchester United’s No.1 goalkeeper.
Diogo CostaThe Portugal international has been the keeper most heavily linked with De Gea’s spot. Chelsea are also said to be looking at Costa, who has been minding Porto’s net as first choice for the last two seasons.
The 23-year-old was Portugal’s No.1 at the World Cup, edging out Wolves stoppers past and present Rui Patricio and Jose Sa. United’s scouts are said to be ever-present at Porto matches these days and the reports would pinpoint the keeper’s style as much closer to what Ten Hag needs compared to what he’s currently got. Costa is comfortable with both feet, over varying distances, and he’s adept at leaving his line to assert authority in his box. When it comes to crosses stopped, he’s in the 86th percentile among European goalkeepers this season; De Gea is in the sixth.
Costa will cost a lot. With numerous clubs looking at him, Porto have no need to accept anything lower than the £66million it would take to activate the release clause in his contract, which still has four years left to run.
Jordan PickfordThe England goalkeeper is also tied down until 2027. But there would be a deal to be done if Everton find themselves in the Championship next season.
If the Toffees are relegated, Pickford could hardly be held responsible. If it wasn’t for his performances last season, they would have been playing in the second tier already. He won Everton’s Player of the Year then, and he’d be a contender once more.
The concern over Pickford, ever since he made the breakthrough at Sunderland after working up the league ladder in loan spells, has been around his mentality. We’ve described him before as ‘a daft puppy’ and the gloves certainly fit then. But Pickford, now 29, has matured with experience and he continues to improve, even if you can still occasionally see him struggle to keep the puppy in him on a lead. The fact he remains England No.1, despite the form of Nick Pope and Aaron Ramsdale, speaks volumes of his consistency.
Emi MartinezUnited’s goalkeeper needs a big presence and Martinez is certainly that. Numerous No.1s have in the past wilted in the spotlight of the Old Trafford goal but there would be few concerns about the World Cup winner in that respect.
There was reported to be ‘concrete interest’ from United in Martinez after his Golden Glove-winning antics in Qatar and the vacancy in Ten Hag’s net could come at the perfect time, with the 30-year-old’s stock unlikely ever to be higher. And he has made no secret of his desire to play in the Champions League.
Getting him out of Villa could be tricky. Despite reports that Unai Emery wasn’t a fan, it seems the pair get on rather better these days and the Villans have no need to sell unless they receive a huge offer.
David RayaRaya took De Gea’s place in the Spain squad. Could the Brentford keeper unseat him at Old Trafford too?
There are many who feel he could. Raya has been superb for the Bees since they came up, with Luis Enrique evidently more impressed with his form compared to what De Gea has offered. This season, he’s saved 76.2% of the attempts on his goal – and no keeper has faced more than the 172 shots Brentford have allowed. He’s conceded 3.1 goals fewer than his xGA, a number bettered by only three others in the Premier League.
He’s also extremely comfortable with his feet, something Raya attributes to the hours he spent on a futsal court while growing up in Catalonia. Jurgen Klopp was certainly impressed when Liverpool faced Brentford earlier this season: “He should have a no.10 on his back with the balls he plays.”
Handily for United, Raya is approaching the end of his contract at Brentford. He has turned down two renewal offers and has spoken of his desire to play European football. The Bees insist they feel no pressure to sell, but there is undoubtedly a deal to be done this summer, whether it is with United, Chelsea or Tottenham.
Mike MaignanUnited have been linked with Magic Mike in the past – but they have almost certainly missed their opportunity, with AC Milan unlikely to entertain any offers that aren’t ridiculous.
Maignan moved to Milan in 2021 from Lille when Gianluigi Donnarumma walked out to join PSG. The Frenchman has filled those gloves wonderfully, and he has recently slipped on Hugo Lloris’s old mitts after the France captain hung them up in the wake of the World Cup.
The 27-year-old was named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year while helping Milan win their first title in 11 years. Milan have struggled to replicate that form domestically but Maignan has maintained his standards while excelling on the Rossoneri’s run to the Champions League semi-finals.
Maignan is brilliant on his line – as Nathan Collins well knows – and he is strong on crosses. His passing is also up to the standard Ten Hag requires, especially over longer distances.
Another view of Mike Maignan's wonder save from Nathan Collins last night. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RQrJYs5hW9
— Éire Guide (@eireguide) March 28, 2023
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