United Identify Handanovic And Donnarumma As Potential De Gea Replacements
Reuters / John Sibley
Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic is currently leading Manchester United’s shortlist of candidates to replace David De Gea, according to latest reports.
The Independent claims there are ‘growing concerns’ from United’s players as well as management that Mourinho’s No 1 goalkeeper will leave Old Trafford for Real Madrid in the summer. Madrid desperately want to replace Keylor Navas at the end of this season, and De Gea has always been one of their top targets along with Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois.
The Red Devils are in search of potential goalkeepers to replace the Spaniard, and 32-year-old Handanovic, who is also on Liverpool’s radar, is thought to be under consideration.
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Interestingly, the Slovenia international shares an agent with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, so this could be an advantage for Manchester United. Also, Inter may not likely to put up much resistance due to his age.
Reuters/Michael Kooren
Gianluigi Donnarumma is also being closely monitored by the United scouts, as the Italian’s contract situation with AC Milan still hasn’t been resolved. The 18-year-old is currently on a youth deal with the Serie A giants, which ends in the summer of 2018.
But despite no agreement in place, AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi claimed last week that he had no plans to allow Donnarumma to leave.
“Gigio is one of Milan’s jewels,” he told La Verita. “He’s a gorgeous product of our youth system, he feels strong attachment in his heart to the jersey and the Rossoneri colours. For us he’s completely off the market.”
There is a strong possibility that Manchester United’s backup goalkeeper Sergio Romero will also be offered a fresh deal as he enters the final 12 months of his current contract.
