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Manchester United prepare bid for David de Gea replacement

Manchester United are preparing for the potential departure of shot-stopper David de Gea by lining up a bid for Barcelona keeper Jasper Cillessen, according to reports in the Daily Record.

United, under the management of Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer, are set for a crucial summer window and an even more pivotal season in 2019/2020, with considerable uncertainty surrounding a number of key players in the Red Devil’s squad.

This includes the future of De Gea, whose reluctance to sign a new contract at Old Trafford has led Ed Woodward and the United hierarchy to consider pursuing alternative options.

De Gea, 28, has been at the club since 2011, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League during his time in Manchester. The Spaniard has come under fire for his performances in the 2018/19 campaign, with several high profile errors, including against Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

This has seen heightened interest in other goalkeeping options, with Barcelona’s Jasper Cillessen on United’s shortlist in the eventuality of De Gea’s departure.

Cillessen, 30, has been at Barcelona since 2016 when he signed from Ajax, but has made just a handful of first-team appearances and 11 in 2018/19 at for the Catalan giants.

The Dutchman announced earlier this season his intentions to depart Barcelona for pastures new, with the La Liga Champions wanting £22m for the 30-year-old, although Benfica are also marked as suitors of interest.

This is believed to not be a stumbling block for United, as the club prepare to hand Solsjkaer a £200m war-chest in a bid to revitalise the squad and inject new impetus to their domestic prospects.

United have, yet again, started the summer transfer window in frustrating fashion, with Borrusia Dortmund refusing to entertain offers for Jadon Sancho and Matthijs de Ligt stuck in the middle of a tug-of-war between Barcelona and United.

A move for Cillessen has a far higher likelihood of materialising, and as rumours of De Gea’s departure continue to gather traction, the club may opt to move swiftly to prevent yet another disastrous transfer window of missed opportunities and last-minute deals that would unquestionably hinder Solsjkaer and United in the 2019/2020 campaign.

Tom Newman

Founder and Editor at 90MAAT.

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