Manchester United have reportedly identified Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as their ideal replacement for David de Gea.
With less than a year left on his Old Trafford contract, the Spain international’s long-term future has been questioned for some time.
Man United have the option to extend De Gea’s contract until 2024, but the 20-time English champions have yet to decide whether to keep the 31-year-old on hand.
As per The Telegraph (via Metro), the Red Devils are even willing to let De Gea leave for free next summer, which would save the club a significant amount of money in wages.
De Gea is said to make £350,000 per week at Old Trafford, with only Cristiano Ronaldo earning more, but club officials are unhappy with his early-season performances.
Erik ten Hag is reported to be focused on instilling a number one that is confident with the ball at his feet and capable of playing out from the back, and De Gea’s skill in that area has been questioned.
Jordan Pickford To Replace David de Gea At Man United?
As a result, Everton shot-stopper Pickford has surfaced as a prospective transfer target, according to the report, because the England number one has proved his competence in playing the sweeper-keeper role.
Pickford has spent the previous five years at Goodison Park after signing for £25m from Sunderland in 2017, and he has recorded 55 clean sheets in 205 games for the Toffees.
The 28-year-old has also represented England at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020, but his contract with Everton is set to end in 2024.
However, Frank Lampard has stated that Everton and Pickford are in contract negotiations, and he is hoping that an agreement can be reached “very quickly.”
“The club are speaking with Jordan. He is a massive player for us, everyone wants him to stay and Jordan is very happy here,” Lampard told reporters earlier this month. “Maybe it is one for the craziness of the window to shut in a couple of weeks and in the cold, calm light of day we can get it done very quickly.”
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Since joining Manchester United from Atletico Madrid in 2011, De Gea has maintained 168 clean sheets in 495 appearances across all competitions, and the Red Devils have also been linked with a deal for current Rojiblancos number one Jan Oblak.
Ten Hag now has De Gea, Martin Dubravka, and Tom Heaton as his senior goalkeeping options, with Dean Henderson returning from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest next season.
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