David de Gea has been offered to Sevilla and Real Betis as Manchester United continue to look for a possible replacement.
According to Spanish publication Estadio Deportivo, David de Gea could leave Manchester United next summer, with La Liga giants Sevilla and Real Betis being his possible destinations.
Manchester United’s interest in getting a new ball-playing keeper is not a hidden secret as rumours have been flowing in from all around the continent. A possibility of a swap deal with Atletico Madrid has also popped up. Jan Oblak’s future is also up in the air, and Los Rojiblancos’ interest in de Gea could see both the goalkeepers interchanging sides.
Manchester United have also sent scouts to watch FC Porto shot stopper Diogo Costa on a number of occasions. And these instances have piled the pressure on the current number one.
The 31-year-old displayed his improved distribution skills in the 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. But Erik ten Hag already fueled the rumours by insisting that contract talks are shelved as of now as he is focusing more on how to control the situation on the pitch.
De Gea has long been a servant of Manchester United and has been pretty consistent with his reflexes and shot-stopping skills. But in modern football, a goalkeeper needs to use his pair of feet more frequently with a definite kind of precision, which de Gea lacks.
His current contract expires next summer, but the deal does have an extension clause which has not been triggered. Real Betis have preferred Rui Silva in La Liga. But in the UEFA Europa League, the 39-year-old veteran Claudio Bravo has featured in all the matches.
Bravo’s future could be settled in the summer once his current contract ends, while Rui Silva could also be on his way out. So a move for de Gea stands feasible for the Andalusian club. But his enormous wages should be a concern if they are to pursue a move.
Sevilla currently only have two goalkeepers in Bono and Marko Dmitrovic in their ranks. And should they be looking for the league title next season, de Gea could be welcomed with open arms. Los Nervionenses are struggling to replicate their good old days, and the Spanish ace’s arrival would offer them a fresh lease of life.
Having been in England since 2011, a move back to Spain would also allow de Gea to spend more time with his family. It remains to be seen whether Manchester United allow the player to leave as a free agent or extend his contract in an attempt to recoup some of the money they paid to Atletico Madrid.