After the heartbreaking loss against the English champions Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Erik Ten Hag is looking to rejuvenate his team with new signings. The Dutchman had a successful first stint with Manchester United by securing the third position in the Premier League and winning the EFL Cup. David de Gea has been a steadfast servant of the club for 12 long years but now it seems that the time has come for the curtain to fall on his Manchester United career.
The Red Devils are looking for players across the pitch but not more so than a centre-forward and a goalkeeper. With the club close to agreeing terms with Chelsea for Mason Mount, it looks like Erik Ten Hag wants to shift his focus to bring in a new number one to Old Trafford.
David de Gea Man Utd career recap
In 2011, Sir Alex Ferguson signed David de Gea from Atletico Madrid for $24 million, a then-British record fee for a goalkeeper. Since joining the club, the Spaniard has made over 500 appearances and has a Premier League title, Europa League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Community Shield in his cabinet. Last season De Gea climbed up the table to become the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets for the club surpassing Peter Schmeichel.
For three consecutive seasons from 2013 – 2016, he was adjudged as Manchester United’s Player of the Year. Last season, he won the golden glove in the Premier League for keeping 17 clean sheets, the most by any goalkeeper. Currently, United’s number 1 is the highest-paid player in the club reportedly on a contract worth $21 million per year.
Is Andre Onana good enough to replace David de Gea?
After an error-strewn season and costing his team in crunch matches, huge questions are floating over the future of David De Gea at Old Trafford. The Spaniard has come under immense scrutiny due to his deficiency of playing out from the back and contributing to Erik Ten Hag’s possession-based style of play.
Andre Onana came into the limelight after his pinpoint distribution in the Champions League final. Many reports suggest that the Inter Milan goalkeeper would cost nearly $54 million.
The Cameroon international has played under Erik Ten Hag during his Ajax days and it is fair to say that the Dutchman believes he is the right candidate to be Manchester United’s number 1. The duo together won three Eredivisie titles and performed heroics at the 2019 Champions League by outclassing the big boys like Real Madrid and CR7’s Juventus.
Amidst the chaos of the takeover of the club, Erik Ten Hag has his fingers crossed for achieving his priority targets before the transfer window ends in the early days of September. With every passing day of David de Gea not signing the new contract proposed by the club and many Saudi clubs enquiring about his stance, it is becoming abundantly clear that the Spaniard has his sights away from Old Trafford.
With just about 45 days left for the Premier League season to start, there is still question marks on United’s number one.
