Man Utd close in on expensive goalkeeper
Manchester United are tantalisingly close to completing the £16 million capture of Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea, who has told his current employers that he wishes to leave at the end of the campaign, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
They claim that the Spanish shot-stopper has signalled his intention to change clubs in the summer and that Atletico have reacted by in principle agreeing a deal with the Red Devils, but it's important to note that there has been no confirmation of the rumours in the Madrid sports newspapers.
The Premier League champions' chief executive David Gill revealed on Monday that they had already identified the man that they want as a replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar and are confident of bringing him to Old Trafford having assumed a "good position" in negotiations.
De Gea has constantly been linked having established himself as first choice at the Vicente Calderon at the age of 20, though some will argue that £16 million is a hefty fee for a player not yet capped by Spain, especially as Germany number one Manuel Neuer is supposedly moving for just £13 million.
However, the difference in the speculated transfers is that Neuer has only a year left on his Schalke contract and has announced that he won't extend it, putting Bayern Munich in a position of power, plus de Gea is five years younger and has a tougher task dislodging Iker Casillas at international level.
Sir Alex Ferguson is believed to be targeting at least three relatively high-profile additions over the next few months but a new goalkeeper is undoubtedly the priority given how vital van der Sar has been to their success over the last few years.
Will they retain the title without the Dutch veteran? They are [2.98] on Betfair...
Published: 20 May 2011
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