Manchester United are reportedly staring at the possibility of losing backup goalkeepers Sergio Romero and Lee Grant at the end of the season.
As per a report from The Sun, Manchester United could be set to lose second and third choice goalkeepers Sergio Romero and Lee Grant in the summer transfer window, with the club already looking at possible replacements.
Romero signed for Manchester United from Sampdoria in 2015, but has had to play second-fiddle to David de Gea throughout his stint at Old Trafford. Till date, the Argentine has made 54 appearances for the Red Devils, ten of which have come in the ongoing campaign.
The report states that while Romero is happy at Manchester United, the 32-year-old is keen on securing more first-team action, which has led to him considering his future. There has been some degree of interest in Romero from La Liga clubs Villarreal and Real Sociedad, along with a number of other clubs in Europe.
With just a little over a year left on his current £60,000-a-week contract with Manchester United, the Argentine shot-stopper is seeking talks with the club over his future and may look to move on in search of first-team football.
Along with Romero, third-choice goalkeeper Lee Grant could also be on his way out of Old Trafford. The 37-year-old Grant, who was signed by Manchester United from Stoke City in the summer of 2018, has made just two appearances till date for the club, one each in the last and the current season.
The veteran goalkeeper is in the final few months of his contract with the 20-time English champions and as per the report there have been no talks over a new deal, casting a doubt over Grant’s future at the club.
A club source told The Sun : “Sergio Romero is happy at United but there is plenty of interest being shown in him. At one stage, he thought he might even have a shot at being No1, but that was before David renewed his contract late last year. There have already been discussions to look at who might be recruited if both of them go. That’s what’s likely to happen.”
Should either of them leave, Manchester United have readymade replacements in Dean Henderson, who has excelled on loan Sheffield United over the past two years, as well as Joel Pereira, who is also currently away on loan at Scottish outfit Hearts. Kieran O’Hara, who is on loan at Burton Albion, is also an option, but his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
However, the report adds that Manchester United are considering the possibility of sending Henderson on loan to Sheffield United for another year. In that case, there are also reverse team goalkeepers Matej Kovar and Nathan Bishop, who arrived from Southend United in the January transfer window.
While Grant’s exit might not be that big a loss, Romero’s potential departure could be a bit of a dampener for Manchester United, given that the Argentine has been an excellent backup for de Gea. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the goalkeeping duo come summer.
