Manchester United have reportedly submitted a bid to sign Newcastle United goalkeeping ace Martin Dubravka on loan for the remainder of the season.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Manchester United are in the hunt for a new goalkeeper and have tabled a bid to sign Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a season-long loan deal, with an option to buy him next summer for around the £5 million mark.
Manchester United want to bring in an experienced goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet to compete with David de Gea. The Spaniard has been the club’s No.1 for a number of years now, but his adaptability to Erik ten Hag’s style has been called into question, with concerns raised following his blunders in the devastating defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford earlier this month.
Veteran Tom Heaton has been providing backup since the decision to loan Dean Henderson to Nottingham Forest. But ten Hag is eager to bring in a more competent keeper to challenge the out-of-form de Gea, who, despite coming under extensive criticism lately, will likely remain Manchester United’s first-choice for foreseeable future.
As such, Manchester United have been linked with a move for Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, although that interest seems to have cooled down. Yann Sommer of Borussia Monchengladbach has also been mooted as a potential contender for the Red Devils, but the Swiss international was wary of making a move to Old Trafford over concerns of seeing a lack of action as a second-choice keeper in a World Cup year.
Manchester United official proposal to Newcastle for Martin Dubravka is for loan move until June 2023. Just been told it also includes buy option clause discussed between the two clubs, around £5m. ?? #MUFC
Newcastle will decide soon – while Trapp decided to stay at Eintracht. pic.twitter.com/tUOnbDYYvi
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 25, 2022
Norwich City’s Tim Krul and Watford’s Daniel Bachmann have also been considered but are no improvement on current backup Heaton. Manchester United have now realigned their radar towards Newcastle United goalie Martin Dubravka.
Dubravka arrived at St. James’ Park in January 2018, initially on loan from Sparta Praha, before making the move permanent the following summer. The 33-year-old has been a dependable no. 1 for Newcastle in the past, starting every Premier League game between 2018 and 2020. He was named as Newcastle’s Player of the Year in the 2019/20 campaign for his relegation-saving contributions.
This is not the first time Dubravka’s name has been connected with an Old Trafford switch. Manchester United reportedly made an attempt for the goalkeeper back in January, with rumours over a possible swap deal at the time involving Dean Henderson mooted. But Dubravka was not keen on the move back then due to his No. 1 position at St. James’ Park, so a deal fell through.
However, the situation is different now as the summer arrival of Nick Pope has plunged the Slovakia international down the pecking order under Eddie Howe. Dubravka’s representatives are set to hold talks with Newcastle United this week following Manchester United’s bid, with the player keen on a move to Old Trafford.
The 33-year-old missed Newcastle United’s EFL Cup tie at Tranmere Rovers this week, with the club officially stating he was ill. Talks between Manchester United and Newcastle United are currently underway, and he could join the Red Devils before the transfer deadline on September 1.
