Manchester United are reportedly considering Nick Pope as a possible replacement for David de Gea in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Daily Star, Nick Pope has emerged on Manchester United’s radar ahead of the summer transfer window. The Burnley goalkeeper is one of the options being considered as a possible long-term replacement for David de Gea, who faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford.
Pope joined Burnley from Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2016 and has since gone on to become one of the best goalkeepers on show in the Premier League. Initially the understudy to Tom Heaton, the 28-year-old has been unleashed in a brilliant way since the former Manchester United goalkeeper’s move to Aston Villa.
While his true breakthrough with Burnley was in the 2017/18 season, Pope has progressed by leaps and bounds since last term, having become an ever-present in goal for the Clarets. He has kept an impressive 42 clean sheets for Burnley in 112 appearances and his progress has attracted several clubs. Ahead of this summer’s transfer window, Manchester United are hot on his trails.
Manchester United appear set for a major shuffle in the goalkeeping department, with David de Gea and Sergio Romero – two long-standing stalwarts for the Red Devils – seemingly destined to be offloaded in the summer transfer window. Romero has become a peripheral figure since the return of Dean Henderson from a loan spell at Sheffield United.
On the other hand, de Gea could be cut loose due to the Englishman’s impressive showings in goal this season coupled with some of his own error-prone displays in the last few campaigns. As a result, it has been suggested that Manchester United are targeting a number of goalkeepers, with AC Milan no. 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma also reportedly on their shortlist of candidates.
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Pope has now emerged as a possible option worth considering as well, with the Englishman being viewed as someone who would compete hard with Henderson for the first-choice goalkeeping berth at Old Trafford. However, Manchester United will need to loosen their purse strings if they want to land the 28-year-old, who is valued around £50 million by Burnley.
Meanwhile, Manchester United have also earmarked Brighton & Hove Albion custodian Robert Sanchez as a potential backup as well. For now, though, it looks like Pope could be targeted by the former Premier League champions for a big move in the summer, and it remains to be seen if he makes his way to Old Trafford soon.
