Roland Cutinho
Turkish giants Fenerbahce targeting Manchester United hero David de Gea as they fail to land Croatian star Dominik Livakovic
The situation surrounding the contract of Manchester United hero and current free-agent David de Gea has sparked widespread rumours, particularly as his agreement with the Red Devils expired on June 30.
Since his transfer from Atletico Madrid in 2011, the Spanish star has amassed an impressive record of 545 appearances for Man United. During his time at the club, he has contributed to their success in various competitions, including the Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup.
De Gea‘s performance last season saw him secure the Premier League Golden Glove award thanks to his 17 clean sheets in the top flight.
However, despite this achievement, a number of notable errors have raised concerns about his future at the club.
Criticism was particularly strong following United’s elimination from the Europa League at the hands of eventual champions Sevilla, with De Gea also drawing scrutiny for his display in the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
It was earlier stated that the Red Devils were ready to consider retaining him only if he agreed to a substantial pay cut.
However, after agreeing to a salary of £275,000, the club later withdrew the offer, citing concerns about the viability of the contract terms. Hence, due to a lack of action, the Spanish star’s contract expired last week.
Turkish giants Fenerbahce have emerged as a potential destination for the veteran shot-stopper, with reports suggesting that they are prioritising a move for him to strengthen their goalkeeping department.
Turkish outlet Fotomac states that Fenerbahce intends to hold talks with De Gea’s agent in the coming week and have prepared an offer to present.
In the event that their pursuit of the 32-year-old fails, they would shift their attention to Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp. However, the situation remains uncertain, as the 32-year-old’s final decision could depend on the proposal presented by Fenerbahce.
The Istanbul-based club have already lost the chance to sign Croatian star Dominik Livakovic, and they want to make sure that they have a new keeper next season.
Meanwhile, United initially intended to keep De Gea and avoid spending their budget on a new goalkeeper. But now manager Erik ten Hag is actively seeking a replacement goalkeeper.
His primary target is Andre Onana, with whom he has previously worked at Ajax. However, Inter Milan’s €60 million price tag for the African star could present a challenge. As alternatives, the Red Devils are considering Eintracht Frankfurt’s Trapp and Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow, who are both more affordable options.
Regardless of the outcome of this transfer saga, the expiration of De Gea’s contract marks a new phase in his career and a fresh start for United’s defensive lineup. With only two senior keepers in the squad, United need to act swiftly in the transfer market.
A decision is expected to come soon regarding the veteran keeper’s future as United are still in talks with the player. However, the club should be crystal clear with their decision-making and not try to hold the talks for a longer time.
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If the club decides to let De Gea leave, the Spanish star will have ample time to build himself up at the new club. This would indeed push United to secure their targets in the ongoing transfer window.
