Date: 31st March 2011 at 2:51pm
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Manchester United’s much publicised search for a goalkeeper intensifies, as reports indicate that the Red Devils have been in talks with the talented Spanish goalkeeper but no agreement has been forthcoming thus far.

It has been confirmed that Manchester United have held non-conclusive talks to sign the Spanish goalkeeper David De Gea from Atletico Madrid.

Hector Rincon, the player’s agent, was quick to emphasize that United were not the only big club who were interested in signing De Gea, and added that Wigan Athletic had made an offer but the club was swift to reject any advances for their prized possession.

“Well, we did have talks with Manchester United but, first of all, they always look for an agreement with the club.

“Anyway, most of the biggest European teams have shown interest in David de Gea,” revealed Rincon.

David De Gea, who made the breakthrough to the Atletico first team in the 2009/10 season, is seen as one of Spain’s brightest prospects in a dearth of goalkeeping talent that already includes other stellar names like Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina, who has also been heavily linked with a move to United in the press.

Reports suggest that United or any other clubs who are interested in the Spainard’s services may well have to pay the full minimum transfer clause inserted into the player’s contract, which is valued at £17.6m, later confirmed by Rincon himself.

“You would have to ask the club. What I can tell you is that his release clause now is €20 million, but I have no idea if the club would sell him for less.

“Right now, the player has a contract with Atletico Madrid and if Manchester United or any other team want him they will have to reach an agreement or pay the whole release clause.”

It has also been reported by The Times that if the move for De Gea falls through, Sir Alex Ferguson could move quickly for another target on top of his wishlist, Schalke’s Manuel Neuer. The German recently quashed reports of moving overseas saying that he ‘didn’t feel it was necessary to move to England’ to become a better player, amidst rumors of an imminent move to Bayern Munich.

Eat and be merry!

 

8 responses to “United make steps towards replacing van der Sar”

  1. Nath says:

    Leave it to Fergie. We will have a new keeper next season, anyone working with VDS is going to be world class.

  2. JB says:

    Best option imo and he will only get better under the guidance of Vds.

  3. Terence Ting says:

    Agreed, I really like De Gea and think he could last two decades here if he performs anywhere near the same level as our flying dutchman.

  4. Yashi says:

    £17.5m is an obscene amount of money to spend on a GK. De Gea might be the best thing since sliced bread, very promising young GK, but I don’t want us spending so much! It’s crazy money. Unless it’s someone like Casillas or Buffon with loads of experience and consistency.

    • Terence Ting says:

      De Gea might not have the overall experience of the two goalkeepers he mentioned and has some way to go before he is truly considered in the bracket of world-class.

      If the move pans out successfully though like I said above and he is the man between the sticks for the next twenty years, then £17.5m (imho) is a reasonable amount to solve our goalkeeping problem permanently.

      • Terence Ting says:

        *you mentioned sorry for the typo!

      • Yashi says:

        De Gea is definitely an awesome prospect. If he does well at Utd for the next 20 years or so, I would be happy to pay double the rumoured figure!

        But, I feel very uneasy with such a high price when he is still so young. It is a big gamble. If it works, fantastic. If not, I don’t know if we can go through what we went through post-Schmeichel. For that reason, I am a bit sceptical, although there is no doubting how good a buy he potentially be.

        • jonathan says:

          It’s completely speculative at this point, but De Gea’s rise may be similar to that of Buffon 10 years ago. Buffon was still in his early 20’s when Juve felt they were sure that he could be the best goalkeeper in the world. Morever, they paid a HUGE sum to get him.

          Of course, the parallels only go so far as De Gea is still a bit younger and less experienced than Buffon was at that point; but there are still many similarities and De Gea has started for Atletico for well over a year now, giving quite of bit of time to determine whether or not he’s the real deal.